A political group, Kogi Unity Agenda (KUA), has raised an alarm over alleged ongoing voter suppression in the eastern and western senatorial districts of the state by some suspected pro-government agents.
KUA, a pro-Jibrin Oyibe Usman campaign organization for the November 11, 2023 governorship election on the platform of Accord Party, made this known in a statement signed by Samson Atekojo Usman on Friday.
The group condemned the antics of desperate politicians in strong terms, adding that some individuals claiming to represent Kogi state government go about demanding for permanent voters cards (PVC) from persons and group leaders for payment of subsidy palliative relief.
“This development did not only constitute voter suppression, but a panic move to disenfranchise voters during the governorship election in the affected two senatorial districts where the governor’s anointed candidate, Ododo Ahmed Usman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot get 5 per cent votes,” Samson said.
Usman, in the statement, alleged that some local government council Chairmen were involved in the scam which was mostly directed at the vulnerable and illiterate persons with voter cards, as well as associations and groups in promise that they would be paid stipends by Kogi state government as ‘subsidy palliative relief.’
KUA added that it was aware of several manipulative strategies being put in place ahead of the governorship election, stressing that voter card for ‘subsidy palliative relief’ is one of such strategies to suppress votes, but asked electorate to “wise-up and resist attempt to force a stooge on them.”
“The electorate across the three senatorial districts are urged not to surrender their permanent voter card, PVC, for payment under any guise. No government palliative measures would warrant submission of PVC, except for selfish purposes as it were.
“Where they failed to surrender their permanent voter card, they will face threat and intimidation by governor Bello’s agents. We advise them to report to the security agencies or find out from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at each local government headquarters.”
The group noted that the candidate of Accord Party, Vice Admiral Jibrin Oyibe Usman (rtd) was aware of challenges being faced by Kogites and has worked out development plan in conjunction with critical stakeholders, professionals and egg heads from the three senatorial flanks befitting of the state, urging the citizens to vote him as governor of Kogi State.
“The Kogi Unity Agenda has discovered the antics of governor Yahaya Bello through his agents who are demanding for voters’ card for payment of subsidy palliative relief ahead of governorship election.
“We condemn this development in strong terms as this amount to denial of electorate to cast votes on November 11, 2023. It is evil, selfish and anti-democratic, hence, Kogites must not surrender their voter cards for any reason.
“Unfortunately, this is a desperate move by the governor to foist his anointed candidate and his brother, Ododo Usman Ahmed on the good people of Kogi State and we are urging Kogites to resist the attempt and report those agents to security agencies.”
