Tadahiro Ando KYODO PHOTO

Saisho, 58, was arrested Dec. 3 for allegedly rigging a bid on a bridge project in July.

The prefectural assembly meanwhile approved the resignation of Gov. Tadahiro Ando in connection with the scandal.

"We are in an unusual situation with the governor's resignation and a series of arrests of officials, but I ask you to carry out your work properly without panicking," Deputy Gov. Kayoko Saka told senior prefectural officials.

The election to choose a new governor will be held within 50 days of Dec. 4. The prefectural election board has said the campaign will probably start Jan. 4, with the vote taking place Jan. 21.

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said: "The most important thing is (gaining) trust from the regions and residents, so we must not allow this kind of incident to happen."

Ando, 65, has denied involvement in bid-rigging but announced he would resign to "avoid prolonging disarray" in the prefectural government caused by the scandal, which has resulted in the arrest of five senior prefectural government officials, including Saisho.

Ando, who was subjected to a no-confidence vote Dec. 1, is the second governor to resign after such a vote, following Gifu Gov. Saburo Hirano in 1976.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 9, 2006
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