The All Progressives Congress in Kogi State has alleged that the newly posted Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to the state, Prof. Jacob Jatau, has been compromised by the state government.
The APC in a press statement it issued yesterday alleged that the Kogi REC had been compromised by the state government to rig today’s House of Assembly
elections in favour of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The party alleged that the new REC had been accommodated at the Governor’s Lodge, Lokoja since he resumed duty four days ago.
The APC State Secretary, Media and Publicity Election Action Committee, Musa Bakare, said the development had already made the party to lose faith in the conduct of today’s election in the state.
He added: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress has been drawn to the fact that the new Resident Electoral Commissioner transferred to conduct the House of Assembly election in Kogi State
has been accommodated by the Kogi State Government in the Governor’s Lodge in Lokoja.
“The new Resident Electoral Commissioner, who was supposed to be an unbiased umpire, reported on arrival to the state governor who is an interested party in the forthcoming election. The governor went a step further to provide accommodation for him, all in a bid to compromise him to rig the election in favour of PDP candidates.
“We wish to draw the attention of the Chairman, INEC to this ugly development which is capable of bringing the image of the commission into disrepute.
“The fact that the Resident Electoral Commissioner reported to the state governor on arrival in the state and his acceptance of the offer of accommodation by the state government shows that he is already compromised and can no longer be trusted.
“The APC in Kogi state will not accept anything short of transparent,
free, fair and credible election on April 11, 2015 because anything short of this will be resisted by the party through all civil and legal means”.
The new REC was posted to Kogi State on Monday following the transfer of the former State REC, Hallilu Pai, to Kano State.
The Kogi INEC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Mathew Daniel, said the allegation is all lies.
He said that the REC was not being accommodated in any government facility and was not in need of any government assistance to discharge his duties.
He said: “It is all lies. The REC is not staying in any government house. All our needs is provided for by the Federal Government and right now the REC is seriously engaged in seeing to it that the election is conducted to the satisfaction of Nigerians.
“Who is talking about compromising the REC? Let anyone saying this be mindful of what they are saying.
“How can they say that when Nigerians are all aware of the efforts we are all putting into ensuring credible, free and fair election? This is very unfair.
“But we will not be deterred in the discharge of our duties. We are responsible to the people and to the country.”