An independent campaign organization, Kogi Deserve Better (KDB) Movement, has pledged its commitment to ensuring the electorate make informed choice on the next governor of the state.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lokoja on Friday, Steering Committee Team Lead, Awe Kayode, said the movement will engage all political party governorship candidates, adopt the best and support with its widespread structure to ensure victory at the November 11 2023 poll.
The campaign organization said it will mobilize its over 42,000 members across the 21 local government areas in the state to achieve its goals.
Awe explained that the movement is focused on ensuring that it identify the most credible candidate with character, competence, and sellable track records, adding that the candidate must be a person with capacity, character and a good track record, both in public and private sector.
He stated that the movement would ensure that such candidate is elected to change the poor situation of the state to a better one by providing good governance to the people of Kogi state.
He added that the movement will be engaging Kogi electorates on voter education and sensitization, as well as encouraging them to vote for the right candidate in the forthcoming Kogi state gubernatorial election.
He confirmed that the movement will actively support, mobilize, and campaign for a adopted candidate.
Awe, however, stated that the movement has not identified any candidate from any political party yet.
He said KDB will be scheduling one-on-one interactive session with each candidate of political parties in order to understand their plans and vision for Kogi state and her people in the next 4 years.
“Our selection criteria will include antecedents, character, competence, capacity and appeal to young people who would be engaged in governance.
“Other criteria are equity, national and global appeal, manifesto/agenda for Kogi. The process of emergence by the candidate in the primaries would also be analyzed in the selection process,” he said.
The movement called on all social-political groups, civil society organisations, and all Kogi state sons and daughters, both home and in the diaspora, to join in the move of changing the political narrative of Kogi state, and make things work for the growth and development of the state.
”We are also using this medium to encourage the voters not to engage in vote buying and selling of their votes. Our message remains that all candidates should appeal to the electorate and convince and not induce them with money to be voted for.
”We are appealing to the government both at the federal and state level to allow the will of the people of Kogi state to actualize and create a peaceful atmosphere for the success of the November 2023 election in Kogi state.
”We are also calling on all the candidates to shun use of thugs, violence, religion and ethnic slurs during the campaign. We encourage them to use their campaign to foster peace and unity among Kogites and kick against anything that will bring division to Kogi state.
”We are also using this opportunity to call on the electoral umpire to ensure that Kogi State election is free and fair devoid of manipulation and rigging.”
KDB called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral and transparent during the November 11 2023 Kogi governorship election, and encouraged everyone in Kogi state to get involved in the coming election and learn more about each candidate’s vision for the state.
