From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Forum of political parties in Kogi state comprising of all registered parties in Nigeria on Friday walked out of the stakeholders’ meeting held by INEC over alleged complicity of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof James Apam in the last general election.
The spoke man of the forum, Ibrahim Itodo while speaking with newsmen who accosted him for clarification, said the forum had lost confidence in the REC and would have nothing to do with him except he was moved out of the state.
According to the spoke man, the forum had found the REC consistently compromising with his position and duties and acting in a
the way that is inimical to feelings of majority of voters in the state.
The forum specifically accused the REC of continuous romance with the Yahaya Bello’s administration and deliberately shutting out the opposition in the state by refusing to listen or address their complaints and grievances.
The forum also accused the REC of engaging in fraudulent practices citing the examples of the last year double registration of Governor Bello which was alleged to have been orchestrated and perfected by the REC, and many other issues.
The forum, therefore, called on the INEC chairman to immediately redeploy the REC from the sate before the November 16 governorship election or else the opposition will boycott the election.
The REC while reacting to the forum’s action, said he would not make any comment over the allegations but said ” I remain unshakable”
Meanwhile Professor James Apam in his opening address during the stakeholders meeting disclosed that 170,664 Permanent Voters Cards are yet to be collected by their owners.
The REC said that INEC will commence the issuance of the uncollected voters cards to their owners between 2nd of September to 30th.
He further said that INEC has set up two mobile teams for the issuance of the voters cards across the 21 local government areas of the state with a call on the affected people to avail themselves of the opportunity.
Professor James Apam also informed stakeholders that INEC is fully prepared to ensure the success of the upcoming governorship election in Kogi state as it has already received none sensitive materials for the polls to avoid past experience of either shortage or none availability of the needed materials.
