All Eyes On Kogi Governorship Election Today

All Eyes On Kogi Governorship Election Today

All Eyes On Kogi Governorship Election Today

All attention is on Kogi State as eligible
voters chose their governor in today’s
governorship poll.
Though there is no gainsaying that both
Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) and the security
operatives must brace up to the
challenges that comes with the exercise.
This is because they have given their
commitment and determination to
ensure the wishes of President
Muhammadu Buhari who had been a
victim of electoral fraud severally is
done by ensuring that the exercise is
free, fair and transparent.
The newly appointed Chairman of INEC
Professor Mahmud Yakubu gave the
indication while speaking at the Kogi
state governorship election stakeholders
forum held at Reverton Hotel in Lokoja
recently.
The chairman indicated that the
Commission in its bid to conduct free,
fair, credible and acceptable election
spelt out serious consequences for any of
its staff or any other person found to be
compromising the process for any
reason.
He said only the people of Kogi State can
elect their governor and nobody else.
Yakubu disclosed that the Commission
had come up with additional strategies
that can make it possible for him to
monitor every polling units in the State
from the INEC headquarters in Lokoja.
He allayed all fears of malpractices even
as he assured the citizens and other
stakeholders that the Kogi election would
be a model for all future elections in the
country.
The Chairman explained that a total of
1,351,313 are eligible voters that will
participate in next Saturday election,
pointing out that the commission had
recruited over 13,000 ad-hoc staff to
work in the 3018 polling units for the
election, while the commission had
detected over 2,300 double registration
as the figure would removed from the
Voters registered
The Inspector General of Police, Mr.
Solomon Arase on his part asked his men
to read the body language of the
President and carry on their duty with
dignity.
He reminded them of what the President
said concerning the election which is
going to be a test for his government’s
nonsense stance against malpractices.
However, the Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC), Mr. Haliru Pai said
recently that his commission has made
some adjustments to ensure a hitch free
election, including the redeployment of
those who were found wanting in
previous exercises. The security agents,
too, must not only be seen to be neutral,
but must also display a high level of
professionalism.
The new Commissioner of Police (CP),
Emmanuel Ojukwu, has not left any one
in doubt as to his readiness and that of
his men to ensure a hitch free election.
The recent arrest of some political thugs
from the eastern flank of the state where
the major actors hail from was an
indication that the police was well
prepared.
Also the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) had earlier released
the names of 22 governorship candidates
contesting the November 21
gubernatorial election in Kogi.
The list include Isah Yakubu Kamaldeen
as governorship candidate for (AA),
Dickson F. Fred (Accord), Ukwenya Musa
(ACD), Michael Abdullahi (AD), Usman
Zainab (ADC), Odufu Cosmos Friday
(APA), Prince Abubakar Audu (APC),
Akwu Umar Goodman (APGA), Yinka
Cherry Oloruntoba (CPP), Philips Ezekiel
Koleola (DPC), Abubakar Ibrahim (DPP)
and Ibraham Adejoh (ID).
Others include Raji Ogorima (KOWA),
Philips Omeiza Salawu (LP), Mohammed
Ibrahim Dangana (NCP), Mallam Abdul
Hussein (NNPP), Emmanuel Daikwo
(PDC), Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada (PDP),
Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi (PPA), Dr Ojuh
Godwin Hussein (PPN), Enema Paul
(SDP) and Sa’ad Mukailu Yaro (UDP).
However the PDP candidate Idris Wada
and his APC counterpart Abubakar Audu
are the real contenders though the PPA
and APGA as well as PPN have been
making serious impact, but not much to
go beyond bargain.