Ahead of the Kogi State governorship poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, raised alarm over the level of insecurity in the state, calling for a security beef-up.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in the state, Alhaji Hussain Halilu Pai, made the call at a dialogue session on the forthcoming governorship election in the state organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja.
The commissioner, who expressed the concern, also said that over 308,149 voters are yet to collect their permanent voters card (PVC).
His words: “Security in Kogi State is really a matter of concern to us. What has happened recently like the attack on the Department of State Services (DSS) is a pointer to how volatility Kogi State is. No matter the extent of our readiness, there are serious concerns to the successful conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the state.
“Some of the challenges which INEC cannot pretend about are security for INEC to provide a level playing field. Security agencies should brace-up in their doing to ensure that security issues is thoroughly dealt with before, during and after the forthcoming election.
“I’m more afraid of militancy in Kogi State than Ekiti State; I have been to the two states, I know what I am talking about! There is need to beef-up security. Let me tell you for just National Assembly election alone that has just 21 local governments in Kogi State, we recorded inconclusive elections in seven local government areas.
Pai also called for more funding, saying “funding is also regarded as another challenge as election is generally capital intensive and there is the need for timely and adequate funds for logistics and other expenses.”
He said based on the PVC audit conducted in the state to find out the status of PVCs produced and distributed, it showed that of the one million, three hundred and seventeen thousand, six hundred and seventy two (1,317,672) PVCs received in the state, a total number of three hundred and eight thousand, one hundred and forty nine (308,149), representing 23.4% PVCs, are yet to be collected as at the time the audit was concluded.
He called for a concerted effort from all the stakeholders in the state for the election to be successful.
However, the Commissioners of Police in the state, who was also at the event, Emmanuel Ojukwu, assured Nigerians, especially the people of Kogi State, that no amount of threat would stop the state’s electoral process.
According to him, the police is 100% ready and are working round the clock to ensure free and fair election in the state.
“Yes, there are security issues in Kogi State but our job is to make sure that we minimise the threat to life and property and to give every Nigerian, every Kogites, the enabling environment to exercise their franchise. We are aware of issues like kidnapping, robbery and right now, police are handling the issues professional as we can,” he said.
Ojukwu said that some flashpoints have been identified and that the police are up to the task to ensure peaceful polls in those areas.
He called on the people of the state to be vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies to ensure free and fair election.
