Category: Kogi 2015
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Kogi guber election records smooth accreditation
Accreditation of voters in the Kogi Governorship election commenced at 8 a.m.in virtually all the polling units across the state following the arrival of electoral officials and materials as early as 7 a.m.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited some of the polling units across the state reports that eligible voters were seen on queues ahead of the commencement of the accreditation process.
At Karaworo, Maigari palace, Augwan Tiv , Kabbawa and the New Layout in Lokoja, the state capital, NAN reports that the officials and election materials arrived well ahead of time.
Mr Abiodun Suleiman, an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at polling unit 16 located in Lokoja, told NAN that he and other officials arrived the polling centres with the election materials at about 6:30 a.m.
He said that the accreditation of 1, 686 voters that would vote at the polling units began exactly at 8 a.m., saying that the card reading machines were working perfectly.
NAN observed that the turnout of voters was also impressive in most polling centres visited across the state while security personnel, including the police and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, were deployed in strategic locations.
At Lokoja Local Government/NEPA polling units on Murtala Mohammed Road, eligible voters were accredited by the use of the card reader while the process was smooth due to the presence of security personnel.
Malam Isa Abdulrahman, an Assistant Presiding Officer in the area, told NAN that the exercise was peaceful, as adequate materials had been made available for the election.
At Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, the materials and officials also arrived polling centres as early as 7 a.m.
NAN correspondent in the area reports that electoral officials were also at their duty post ahead of the commencement of the accreditation stipulated by law.
At Ayeteju/Kajola,Odoakete-Bolorunduro,Odolu,Ayewa and Okekoko wards of Kabba, NAN reports that the electoral officials, including members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), were also on ground as early as 7: 10 a.m.
Meanwhile, enthusiastic voters, mostly elderly people, have thronged the various polling centres in Ayewa and Ayeteju/Kajowa ward in readiness for accreditation.
One of the electoral officials at Akefe unit, Mr. Dele Ogunyomi, told NAN that they were fully prepared for the exercise, adding that they had been adequately trained to enable them discharge their responsibilities.
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Kogi: Our fears – Situation Room
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of 70 civil society groups monitoring Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, had expressed concerns over the welfare of security personnel deployed for the election.
The group said it observed that some of the policemen deployed from various states were kept waiting for hours before re-deployment, with some of them loitering aimlessly.
Besides, it also feared that the huge security deployment could become a state-motivated instrument for voter intimidation in today’s election.
It said nothing short of a free and fair election will be accepted to Nigerians.
“The electoral environment is charged no doubt, and there have been various allegations across the aisle on plans to rig the election.
“Situation Room takes note of these developments and calls on all stakeholders, especially political parties to approach this election with responsibility and utmost respect of democratic standards. We cannot afford to fail Nigerians,” the coalition said.
In its preliminary statement on the election on Friday, the group said it was hopeful that security operatives would conduct themselves responsibly and adhere to civil and responsible terms of engagement under the rule of law.
Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform, Ezenwa Nwagwu, who addressed the press on the coalition’s behalf, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver a first-class election on Saturday.