Ahead of the forthcoming local government election in Kogi State, a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Chieftain, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), has asked Governor Ibrahim Idris to re- organise the State Independent Electoral Commission (KSIEC).
Ocholi, who contested the last governorship election in the state on the platform CPC, said that re-organising the electoral commission would ensure the peaceful conduct of the local government poll.
Addressing journalists after the inauguration of the merger committee of the party at the weekend in Lokoja, the state capital, Ocholi alleged that KSIEC chairman and four other members were card-carrying members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said that the parties in the merger talk had already dragged KSIEC to court, asking for its reconstitution or put the election on hold until the right thing is done.
Ocholi said: “I am aware that the parties in the merger – CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kogi State have already gone to court on this matter. We are asking among other things that the election be put on hold until the commission is properly constituted.
“The chairman of the commission and four of its members are members of the PDP. The chairman was the candidate of the PDP in the last general election. So, he cannot supervise any credible election.”
Ocholi stressed that Governor Wada “must demonstrate integrity by overhauling the electoral body,” adding that “failure of which will just be a mockery of democracy.”
According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the new merger political association – is waxing stronger.
He said APC would win the Presidency and Kogi State governorship election in 2015.
Ocholi, however, said that many PDP members had decided to join the CPC because they were not happy with the underdevelopment of the state.
He, therefore, asked the CPC supporters to welcome the PDP members as brothers when eventually joined the party.
Ocholi said: “I am aware that some members of the PDP, who are not happy with the underdevelopment in the state, are planning to join us. So, you must not shut the door against them.”
Earlier in his remark, CPC Chairman in the state, Muhammed Kassim Mabo, assured that the party would win future elections.
He thanked Ocholi and the member representing Lokoja/Kotonkarfi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Buba Jibril, for their support for the growth of the party
