Kogi LG Poll: Observers Report No Shooting, Vote Buying
Electoral observers monitoring Saturday’s local government elections in Kogi State have reported no incidents of shooting, vote buying or ballot stuffing in polling units visited, as the state electoral commission assured voters that all valid votes would be protected and counted.
Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, Associate Professor Joseph Aremo, disclosed this while assessing the exercise alongside members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria.
Aremo said the delegation was in Kogi to assess compliance with the Electoral Act, the state’s electoral law and established guidelines for the conduct of local government elections.
He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of voters and the atmosphere at polling units visited, adding that the delegation had not recorded any casualty or witnessed incidents of shooting, vote buying or ballot stuffing as of the time of its assessment.
He also commended the deployment and conduct of security personnel, including the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies.
According to him, the exercise underscored the importance of voter education in promoting peaceful elections and strengthening democratic institutions.
Aremo urged candidates who emerged victorious to carry their opponents and other stakeholders along in governance, while encouraging those who lost to accept the outcome and prepare for future elections.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Mamman Nda-Eri, has assured voters and political parties of the commission’s commitment to protecting valid votes and ensuring they are counted.
Nda-Eri gave the assurance while monitoring the election, amid complaints by some political parties over the conduct of the exercise.
He dismissed allegations circulating on social media about the process, claiming that some political parties had raised concerns after failing to meet the requirements for participation in the election.
The KOSIEC chairman acknowledged that electoral bodies often faced accusations of favouring particular political interests, but said the commission would strive to demonstrate its impartiality.
He further assured voters that polling units would not close at the scheduled 3 p.m. deadline if eligible voters were still waiting in queues.
According to him, everyone waiting to vote would be allowed to exercise their franchise, even if the scheduled closing time had elapsed.
Nda-Eri described voter turnout as impressive, attributing it partly to voter education and the involvement of political parties in sensitising supporters during the campaign period.
He said the election marked the culmination of a process that began about 360 days earlier, adding that the commission was conducting the exercise in line with its timetable.
He urged eligible voters who had yet to cast their ballots to participate, noting that voting remained an important means of choosing their local government representatives.
Also speaking, the All Progressives Congress chairmanship candidate for Lokoja Local Government Area, Abdulrahman Hussein, popularly known as Gentle, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for the security arrangements put in place for the election.
Hussein said the arrangements had created an atmosphere conducive to voting, allowing residents to choose candidates of their preference.
Expressing confidence in his chances, the APC candidate said his supporters had turned out to demonstrate their backing for the party and the governor.
He pledged to prioritise security, support women in business and promote educational development if elected.
Hussein also expressed optimism that the state government’s efforts to improve access to potable water would benefit Lokoja and other parts of Kogi State.
