INEC Suspends Elections in Nine Wards in Kogi State
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken a decisive step in Kogi State, suspending elections in nine wards due to reported incidents of electoral malpractice.
The malpractices, including the completion of result sheets before voting, have been deemed unacceptable by INEC.
The affected local government areas include Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, a National Commissioner and Member of the Information and Voter Education Committee at INEC, described the incidents in Ogori/Magongo as the most serious, leading to the suspension of the election in nine out of ten wards.
Haruna assured voters that any result not originating from the Commission’s process in the polling units would not be accepted.
The other local government areas are under thorough investigation, with outcomes and the way forward expected to be announced within 24 hours.
Haruna emphasised the commitment to applying appropriate sanctions to individuals complicit in undermining the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dino Melaye, has dismissed baseless speculation that he withdrew from the race.
He urged his party and supporters to remain confident of victory, stating that the rumor was orchestrated by opponents intimidated by his popularity.
On another note, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) expressed concern over election violence during the Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo governorship elections.
Instances of violence were reported, including the shooting of a thug in Kogi State and disruptions in Bayelsa and Imo.
CDD also noted the prevalence of disinformation, urging voters to remain vigilant and resist intimidation and electoral heists.
Vote buying was widespread across the three states, as reported by Situation Room, despite the deployment of anti-corruption agencies.
Instances of vote-selling ranging from N1,000 to N30,000 were observed, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
The situation is fluid, with investigations underway, and the coming days will reveal the final outcomes of the elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo. Stay tuned for more updates as the electoral drama unfolds.
Source: The Guardian Newspaper