News Investigators/ The Chairman of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has assured of the Commission readiness to conduct the governorship election coming up in Kogi State on Saturday November 11, 2023.
Mr. Yakubu gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Election Stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja, the state capital.
The INEC boss who was represented by the National Commissioner in-charge of Kogi, Kwara and Niger States, Sani Adam, said the Commission had done all that is expected of it in terms of logistics, receipt of election materials and enlightenment among others to ensure adequate and peaceful conduct of the election.
He, however, called on political leaders and their followers to play the game of politics by the rules in order to achieve a peaceful election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state,.Hale Gabriel Longpet, said the call for peaceful election in the state became necessary given the crises that characterised the campaign by some politicians.
He stressed his determination to change the narrative before the end of his tenure.
The Commissioner of Police, CP. Onuoha Bernard, berated politicians over behaviors during electioneering campaigns.
He said while the police would provide security during and the election, the politicians have a responsibility to play the game of politics by the rule by eschewing violence,” Mr Bernard said.
He noted that the Constitution gives the police the responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people, adding that he and his men would stick to such constitutional provision during the exercise.
The chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State council, Adeiza Momoh Jimoh, said his members were also ready to discharge their constitutional responsibility towards effective coverage and dissemination of news of the exercise to the public.
He urgec the police to allow journalists do their job during the election.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police assured that law abiding journalists, scheduled for election, should have nothing to fear.
According to INEC, all the 18 governorship candidates will undertake affirmation of peace on Wednesday in Lokoja and commit themselves and their followers to ensure peace during the exercise.
