From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi REC (Middle) with Members of KOPSEN on Advocacy Visit
A None Governmental Organization, Kogi Peace and Security Network (KOPSEN) has commenced collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair governoship polls come November 11.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi State, Dr Gabriel Haley Longpet who welcomed the partnership said that it will go a long way in rewriting the wrongs in the conduct of elections in the state.
He observed that “Election in Kogi is always a case of do or die, but i don’t want that to happen under my watch.”
Dr Longpet gave the assurance when the executives of a non- governmental organization in the state, Kogi Peace and Security Network (KOPSEN), paid him an advocacy visit to seek collaboration with INEC towards a peaceful Governorship election in November.
The visit of the NGO was a collaborative move with key stakeholders to implement its core mandate of identifying communities and settlements prone to crises, disputes, and violence.
Dr Longpet said, “This is the battle of the ballots, not the battle of the guns”
Longpet noted that, “Any political party no matter how small, has a right to campaign for votes anywhere as long as they notify relevant security agencies,” he posited.
Dr Longpet, expressed readiness of INEC to partner with KOPSEN to achieve a violence free election in the state.
The State Coordinator of KOPSEN, Mr. Ben Joshua assured that the organization will not relent to achieve the needed peaceful atmosphere for the successful conduct of the up coming governoship election in Kogi.
He disclosed that KOPSEN is a coalition of all Non-Governmental Organizations in Kogi State working in the peace and conflict resolution thematic areas, with over 30 registered organizations as members.
