Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Catholic Diocese of Lokoja, has recommended that the November 16 governorship election in Kogi state be canceled for a free, fair and credible election to be rescheduled and conducted in the state.
In a report signed by Rev. Fr. Augustine Okafor, JDPC tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make case for electronic voting and transmission of votes in subsequent elections to prevent reoccurrence of avoidable incidences.
JDPC decried political violence leading to ballot snatching and disruption of election process during the Kogi governorship election.
“In most polling units across the various local government, INEC officials and electoral materials arrived on time as early as between 7:30 to 08:15. This was followed by officials setting up their materials and addressing the voters who came out in numbers to get accredited and cast their vote.
“Security agencies such as the Nigerian Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the DSS, the Civil Defense Corps and the Immigration Service were seen at most polling units right on time. voters were equally seen in good numbers as early as 07:00 am in most polling units as accreditation and voting took place in most polling units as early as 08am to 09am. This early arrival by all stakeholders including voters is well commendable as it aided early commencement of the poll.
“It is worthy of mention that there was sufficient deployment of security agencies to most polling units to maintain law and order during the polls. Security agencies were equally identifiable by their tags and ID cards. What is however worrisome is the fact that despite the heavy deployments of security agencies in most polling units, it was easy for suspected armed thugs to move around freely without restrictions. It important to mention that armed thugs operated freely even in Lokoja town shooting, and destroying election materials in Adankolo St Luke primary School where three voters were gunned down. The same security concerns can be said of Fentolu in Adankolo newlayout and in Lokongoma where gun men invaded the polling units destroy election materials.
“This is a serious concern and very worrisome as Lokoja the state headquarters one would expect should have been the most secured and safe place in the state rather became like a war front.
“Vote buying despite being an electoral offence was highly perpetrated openly in many polling units. For instance, in polling units 12 ward A I Lokoja LGA, agents of political parties were seen distributing 2,000 naira to voters. Also in Barracks PU 003 Ward A Lokoja LGA, there was massive incidence of vote buying. In Olamaboro PU 0011 and 0012, 5,000 naira were distributed to voters. This is to mention but a few of the recorded cases of vote buying in the Saturday 16th Kogi Governorship polls.
“Despite the presence of security agencies in good numbers, there was high level of electoral violence and ballot box snatching. For example, St Luke, primary school adankolo, Crowther Memorila College, Lokongoma Primary School, Fentolu Pu all in Lokoja the state capital witnessed invasion by gun men who destroyed ballot boxes and other materials, Also in Ayetoro1 PU 004 Ijumu LGA, Anyigba Dekina LGA PU 003, 005,009, 025, Ofu LGA Ochadamu ward PU 008,009010 and many others ballot boxes were carted away by armed thugs on masks.
“It was further observed in Olamaboro LGA PU0011 AND 0012 Ward 3 under Idah Diocese as observed by JDPC representative in the PU INEC adhoc staff were forcefully replaced by preferred persons by a particular political party perhaps to do the bids of the party in question.
“Also in Ganaja primary school PU 0012 Geregu Ward Aajaokuta LGA A voting center with 9,111 to 9,680 was completely absent and missing from the polling unit thereby disfranchising 571 voters from casting their votes.
“JDPC observers interacted with the Presiding Officer to know reasons for the missing voting center and all electoral materials that are supposed to be in the voting center but the Presiding Officer could not give explanation on the observation. This is very worrisome and unacceptable in a process which ought to be free fair and credible.
“We salute the efforts of INEC, security agencies and voters for timely arrival to the polling units. We however regret to mention that many INEC officials and some security agencies were highly compromised and aided the rigging and snatching of ballot boxes. This is very unfortunate and unacceptable.
“We highly recommend that in view of the killings, illegal movement of gun men suspected to be thugs and massive irregularities, the Kogi state governorship election should be canceled for a free, fair and credible election to be rescheduled and conducted in Kogi state.
“INEC should make case for electronic voting and transmission of votes in subsequent elections to prevent reoccurrence of these avoidable incidences,” the report read.
