‘INEC Must Not Become an Instrument of Political Engineering’
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has come under intense pressure to immediately clarify reports of a proposed ward creation exercise in Kogi State, amid allegations that additional wards are being considered for parts of Kogi West and Kogi Central while Kogi East reportedly the most populous senatorial district in the state, is being allocated none.
Hon. Michael Samuel Idoko, in a strongly worded statement, warned the INEC Chairman not to allow the electoral process to become a source of political tension and division in Kogi State.
He demanded that Professor Amupitan personally address the people of Kogi State and release an official statement stating whether the reported proposal exists, the criteria being applied, the population figures relied upon and why Kogi East is allegedly excluded.
The figures circulating publicly indicate a reported proposal for nine additional wards in Ijumu, four in Mopa-Muro, six in Yagba East, four in Yagba West, four in Kabba/Bunu and five in Okene, while no additional ward is reportedly proposed for Kogi East.
Idoko stressed that the figures have not been independently confirmed and must be verified against official INEC documentation.
However, he said the mere circulation of such a proposal was sufficiently serious to warrant immediate clarification from the electoral umpire.
“Amupitan must explain. Kogi people deserve to know the truth. If these figures are false, INEC should say so immediately. If they are genuine, the Commission must explain the methodology and criteria used to arrive at this distribution,” Idoko declared.
‘Kogi East Will Not Accept Any Form of Discrimination’
Idoko said Kogi East was not demanding preferential treatment, but insisting on fairness, transparency and equal application of the law.
“Kogi East is not asking for favour. We are asking for the methodology, the data and the justification. We cannot accept a situation where criteria are applied to one senatorial district and apparently ignored when Kogi East is being considered,” he said.
According to him, population, geographical spread, demographic realities and administrative considerations must be objectively examined across Kogi East, Kogi Central and Kogi West before any final decision is taken.
He warned that any process capable of altering political representation must be handled with the highest degree of transparency because of its potential consequences for the state’s political equilibrium.
‘Amupitan Must Not Create Problems in Kogi State’
Idoko expressed concern over increasingly strong statements circulating among Kogi stakeholders, including an allegation that “INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan has declared war against Kogi East.”
He rejected inflammatory language as a means of resolving the controversy, but said the allegation should serve as a warning to the INEC leadership that silence could worsen public suspicion.
“I do not believe that Professor Amupitan wants to create a political crisis in Kogi State. But the best way to prevent such a crisis is transparency. INEC must speak now before speculation becomes public anger,” he stated.
He also appealed to respected people of Kogi West to prevail upon the INEC Chairman to ensure that no action is taken that could be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the political interests of Kogi East.
“Those who know Professor Amupitan should caution him. He must not use the enormous powers attached to his office in a manner that could politically destroy or disadvantage any part of Kogi State. His responsibility is to protect the credibility of the electoral system, not to deepen divisions,” Idoko warned.
‘We Will Resist Any Attempt to Shortchange Kogi East’
The PDP political figure said Kogi East would not remain silent if its democratic interests were compromised, stressing that citizens have the constitutional right to demand accountability from electoral institutions.
He said any mobilisation by concerned citizens would be peaceful and lawful.
“If Kogi East is shortchanged, the people will speak. We will mobilise peacefully and lawfully. We will take our message to Abuja and demand answers through every legitimate democratic channel available to us,” he said.
He emphasised that the objective was not confrontation with INEC but the protection of democratic equality.
‘No Part of Kogi Should Gain Political Advantage Through Unequal Rules’
Idoko warned against what he described as “electoral engineering”, arguing that electoral administration must never be manipulated in a way that produces political advantage for one part of a state at the expense of another.
“We must not allow electoral administration to become electoral engineering. No part of Kogi State should gain political advantage from criteria that are denied to another part of the state,” he said.
He therefore called on INEC to publish or publicly explain the relevant data and methodology behind the reported exercise, including the population basis, administrative considerations, geographical factors and legal framework guiding the proposed creation of additional wards.
He further urged political leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, youth groups and other stakeholders across the three senatorial districts to demand transparency without resorting to violence or inflammatory rhetoric.
‘INEC Must Protect Its Credibility’
According to Idoko, the credibility of INEC is bigger than the interest of any political party, candidate or senatorial district.
“INEC is a constitutional institution, not a political instrument. The Commission must be seen to be fair, impartial and transparent. Professor Amupitan has an opportunity to settle this controversy by simply telling Nigerians the truth about what is before the Commission,” he said.
He maintained that if the reported figures are incorrect, INEC should immediately correct the record. But if the proposal is genuine, the Commission must provide a compelling explanation for the apparent disparity.
“No favour. No privilege. No discrimination. One rule must apply equally to all,” Idoko declared.
He concluded by urging Professor Amupitan to act swiftly before the controversy escalates.
“Amupitan must not create problems in Kogi State. Kogi East must not be shortchanged. Let INEC put the facts on the table, let the people examine the criteria, and let fairness prevail,” Idoko said.
