The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing criticism for proceeding with the collation of results despite reported cases of alleged over-voting during the governorship election in Kogi State on Saturday.
Stakeholders have raised concerns over results displayed on the IREV portal, citing alleged instances of over voting in Okehi, Adavi, and Okene LGAs. Despite these allegations, the Kogi State Collation Officer, Prof. Sani Mohammed, proceeded to uphold the results.
The situation has prompted worries about the integrity of the democratic process in Kogi State, leading stakeholders to call for immediate intervention from INEC headquarters to address the reported irregularities and safeguard the credibility of the electoral system.
In response to the unfolding events, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Ajaka, pointed out the cancellation of results in Bayelsa due to over-voting, urging the intervention of the Commission’s headquarters in the Kogi situation.
During a press briefing, Ajaka expressed, “We are being penalized for adhering to the law. We had ample opportunity to manipulate the result in our local government, but we chose to uphold the law.
“When oppressed, our only choice is to defend ourselves. If this trend continues, we will be compelled to safeguard our democracy, a commitment we will uphold if circumstances allow.”
Meanwhile, Senator Dino Melaye, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called for the nullification of the November 11 governorship election, citing unprecedented widespread irregularities in the state’s history.
Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja, the state capital, Melaye expressed dismay at the irregularities that plagued the recent election across all three Senatorial Districts, labeling the electoral process as ‘shameful and unhealthy’.
Melaye particularly highlighted instances in the five local governments of the Central senatorial district, where he alleged that no election took place. He claimed that manual accreditation was conducted, the Biometric Verification Authentication System (BVAS) was not utilized, and result sheets were prepared before accreditation began, with evidence circulating in the media.
He asserted, “It is shameful that this is what our democracy has descended to,” accusing INEC of being untrustworthy, biased, and lacking neutrality.”
Melaye alleged that INEC officials and youth corps members were apprehended with prepared result sheets prior to the commencement of the electoral process. He further claimed that a youth corps member in possession of a prepared result and N1 million was arrested in Kogi Central.
Similarly, Kogi activist, Austin Okai, has condemned INEC, denouncing the decision to announce results amidst irregularities as an attempt to impose a governor without the people’s mandate. Okai called for the complete annulment of the results, presenting figures from Adavi, Okehi, and Okene LGAs which, according to him, indicate significant over-voting.
Okai questioned how INEC could continue to collate election results that it acknowledges are rife with infractions. He emphasized, “The infractions are widespread across Kogi Central.”
“This falsified result cannot be accepted. Total nullification is the only solution,” Okai concluded on his Facebook page.
