Kogi State deputy governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, has been accredited in Mopamuro local government area of the state.
Tag: Kogi poll
-
Kogi poll: Dekina under security lock
As the Kogi guber poll commences, there are reports that there is security lock down at Dekina local government council.
Details later…
-
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.
-
Kogi: Our fears, by Situation Room
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of 70 civil society groups monitoring governorship election in Kogi State, Friday expressed concerns over the welfare of security personnel deployed for the election.
It 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 saturday’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 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.
He said: “Preliminary observations by the Situation Room indicate that voters across the state are highly motivated and mobilised to cast their votes. There are also security concerns during the elections.
“We are reasonably satisfied with the deployment and conduct so far of the security personnel to the state to ensure a safe, secure and peaceful election tomorrow.
“The Situation Room, however, hopes that, drawing from its experiences in previous elections that this deployment would not lead to state inspired voter and process intimidation and suppression.
“However, the Situation Room is hopeful that the entire security machinery will conduct themselves responsibly and adhere to civil and responsible terms of engagement under the rule of law.”
The Situation Room expressed concerns about the arrangements made for the welfare of the tens of thousands of armed security personnel drawn from other parts of the country.
It also wants those with special needs, such as nursing mothers, the elderly, those with physical challenges and pregnant women to be given a special attention during voting.
“We have noted so far, that like in previous elections, there seems to be scant regard for the overall wellbeing and welfare of these officers of the state.
“The Situation Room nonetheless urges the state government to assure the electorate of their personal safety and urges voters to go out and peacefully cast their vote.
“We call on INEC in its role as the Election Management Body to fully acknowledge and make special arrangements for people with disabilities, the elderly and nursing mothers to help them exercise their franchise. This can be effected by giving specific instructions to INEC officials at the voting units,” it said.
It also warned against people spreading false rumors through the social media that could create unnecessary tension.
“The Situation Room especially urges the digital public to be discerning in their reading of social media reports as experiences have shown that some of the reports may be replete with deliberate falsehood aimed at misleading the public.
“We call on all stakeholders in the election process to live up to the expectation of Nigerians and especially call on INEC to deliver free, fair and credible elections in Kogi State.”
-
EU, US embassy, AU, others to observe Kogi poll
The European Union, the United State Embassy and the African Union will be among 50 observer groups to monitor Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State.
Accredited observers thronged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Lokoja Thursday to collect their kits.
Among the local accredited observer groups are the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, the Police Service Commission, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Election Working Group, Women Arise for Change Initiative, among others.
Their foreign counterparts include the British High Commission, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute, which is behind the Transition Monitoring Group.
-
Kogi poll: NYSC deploys 4,000 corps members
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Thursday said it would deploy 4, 000 corps members for election duties in Saturday’s governorship poll in Kogi.
Director-General of the corps, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, disclosed this at Kabba, Kogi, during a sensitisation and awareness programme for NYSC members in the state.
He said that the corps members would serve as presiding officers and assistant presiding officers during the election.
Olawunmi, who commended NYSC members for their performance in the last general elections, urged those that would participate in the Saturday exercise to be diligent and transparent.
He assured the corps members that adequate measures had been put in place for their safety during the exercise.
“No corps member will go out during this election and will not come back safe; we are working with all the security agencies to ensure your safety,’’ he said.
The director-general pointed out that involvement of corps members in the 2011 general elections enhanced the credibility of that exercise.
He expressed optimism that the corps members would improve on performances of their colleagues in previous exercises ‘’to boost the success of the governorship poll’’.
He, however, warned that NYSC would not condone a situation where politicians would molest corps members in the course of discharging their responsibility during and after the poll.
-
Kogi: Five officers to man each polling unit – Police
The police on Thursday said no fewer than five officers will man each of the 2,548 polling units in Kogi State to guarantee maximum security during Saturday’s governorship election.
The state police command headquarters was filled with officers waiting to be redeployed to various divisions and commands, from where they will be assigned to their units.
Already, a heightened law enforcement presence – including armed police – was deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters where non-sensitive materials were being loaded for distribution to collation centres.
The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, deployed three Commissioners to assist the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations, Sotonye Wakama, in overseeing Saturday’s poll.
Each commissioner will supervise a senatorial district. The three Police Commissioners posted to the state are – Isaac Eke, Peter Ogunyanwo and Sam Okaula. They will work with three Assistant Commissioners.
At least 4,969 personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) drawn from different squadrons across the country are to complement the 11,000 conventional police operatives and other security agents on ground, the police said.
Spokesman of Kogi Police Command, Ovyie William, said the Force is prepared to ensure a peaceful election on Saturday.
-
Kog poll: I was misquoted on Audu’s eligibility – Fayose
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has said he was misquoted over his comment on the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Kogi State governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu, to take part in the poll.
Fayose said the statement quoting him as saying Audu was not qualified to run for the Kogi election because of the corruption case hanging on his neck was not made by him.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti, Wednesday, Fayose said the statement he made during the grand finale of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Rally held in Lokoja, focused on the need to ensure a free and fair election in Kogi State.
The governor said his comment has nothing to do with Audu, his former colleague, stressing that in law, every man is adjudged innocent until proved otherwise by law court.
He said: “I wish to state clearly that Alhaji Abubakar Audu has the right to contest. The statement that he cannot contest was not made by me. What I said in Lokoja has nothing to do with Alhaji Audu and I am not contesting his eligibility.
“Alhaji Audu is my former colleague and I have a lot of respect for him. In law, every man is assumed innocent until proved otherwise by law court.”
-
Kogi poll: I have confidence in INEC – Ogheha
Former Governor of Edo State, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, has dismissed doubts about the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to discharge its duty credibly during the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State.
Ogbeha, who is the Director General of the Idris Wada Campaign Organization, said he has confidence in the ability of INEC to ensure a free and fair election on Saturday.
Speaking against on the allegations by some national leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that INEC was plotting to rig the election, he said there was no reason to believe that the electoral umpire will not discharge its duty creditably.
He said: “I have faith in the electoral body, INEC in conducting a free, fair and credible election. The new chairman of INEC has stated that very clearly and Mr. President has given the INEC chairman the marching order to conduct not just Kogi, not just Bayelsa, but future elections in Nigeria in free and fair manner and that is what we expect.
“We don’t want to doubt INEC. We believe in INEC, until they prove otherwise. Going by the assurances of Mr. President and the assurances of the INEC chairman, I believe they are going to create a level playing ground. That is our believe and that is what we expect.”
He expressed optimism that PDP will win the governorship election with a margin of 60 percent, saying, “I know that PDP will win with about 60 percent of the vote and above in a free, fair election.”
-
Kogi poll: Wada meets Buhari, seeks level playing field
Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, on Wednesday pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure level playing field in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in the state.
Wada is the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the November election.
His major challenger in the election is former governor Abubakar Audu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the governor said his performance in office in the last three and half years would also speak for him.
Stressing that preparations for the elections are in top gear, Wada said he is working to ensure adequate security and transparent poll, which he believed Buhari would also support.
He said: “In terms of preparation, we are working hard. I am also working with security agencies to ensure that there is a secure and safe environment for our people in the course of the campaign and during the election.
“I will tell the people of the state to keep faith because we have a transparent President.
“Provided a level playing field is created and security is tightened, any miscreant dealt with in the course of the election and people given the opportunity to express their will, I believe that on the basis of performance I have laid down over the last three and a half years, our people will provide an overwhelming support for my candidacy. All we need is a level playing field.”