From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Ahead of next Saturday Senatorial and House of Representatives rerun elections for Kogi West Senatorial District and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security ggencies to live above board in the discharge of their duties to avert the electoral fraud that dwarfed the just concluded governorship polls in the state.
Speaking at the stakeholders forum organized by INEC yesterday, the representative of CAN and Director National issues of the association, Rev Samuel Owolabi condemned in its entirety the rate of violence, intimidation, gunshots, ballot box snatching and vote buying that marred the just concluded governorship election in Kogi state.
According to the clergyman “As it is now people are demoralised to come out to vote because of fear of being killed. They no longer have confidence in INEC and security operatives. What we witnessed during the just concluded governorship election was civil war”
The clergyman who was on his kneels to make the plea, urged the INEC and security to turn a new leave of conducting acceptable, credible, free and fair rerun elections come next Saturday.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), for Kogi state, Professor James Apam in his opening remarks, said INEC is ready to conduct the two rerun elections as materials, funding and logistic support are already in place for the smooth exercise.
He said the elections will be conducted in 23 polling units in Ajaokuta federal constituency while that of Kogi West Senatorial rerun will take place in 52 polling units and 408 staff and ad hoc personnels would be used for the elections.
The Police during the meeting gave an assurance that enough security operatives would also be provided to ensure peaceful environment for the people to come in their large numbers to exercise their franchise without molestation, intimidation or being killed in the process.
