From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Ahead of November 16 governorship polls in Kogi state, a Human Rights Activist, Comrade Idris Miliki, has identified about nine local government councils as flash points for violence.
The Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, (CHRCR), Idris Miliki who stated this during a Review Meeting for Media and Civil Society Organization, held in Lokoja recently, listed the local government areas most vulnerable to violence to include, Ofu, Dekina, Ajaokuta, Bassa, Adavi, Okehi, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu and Lokoja.
He noted that Idah, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Kogi, Lokoja and Ibaji local government areas are prone to flood which may hinder smooth conduct of the November election in the affected areas and advised that INEC must be proactive to tackle possible obstacles.
The activist also called on security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to beam their searchlight on those areas.
Speaking further in the programme, which was organized in partnership with Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation, Miliki said that the major function of his organization is to identify and tackle corruption in the electoral process.
He further charged security agents to listen to the early warning signals so as to make adequate arrangements to be able to contain possible breakdown of violence before, during and after the November election.
He equally charged the Independent National Election Commission, (INEC), to engage critical stakeholders in discussion and to carry out more sensitization campaign in both electronic, print and the Social media.
Similarly, he called on political parties to be more transparent in the conduct of their primaries so as to be able to tackle corruption in the electoral process.
