By Babajide Okeowo
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kogi State chapter has faulted the conduct of the Local Government Election held across the state and has described it as a big mockery to the nation’s nascent democracy.
The State Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Bode Ogunmola in a statement described the entire process as a scam.
Ogunmola noted that the State Government should have opened up to the entire people of the state that they were not ready to conduct any council election rather than wasting the precious time of electorates who are willing to express their anger through the ballot on the maladministration of the present All Progressive Congress, (APC), in the last five years.
The Party spokesperson alleged that some thugs loyal to the ruling party, invaded the headquarter of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, (KOSIEC), on Friday night, to snatch ballot boxes into an unknown destination.
He said the ruling party would have tasted a sweeping defeat if they were willing to conduct a credible, free, and fair election, as their five years in power have been greeted with poverty, unemployment, hunger, and a shrinking economy.
‘There is no election anywhere in Kogi State. I am at the 002 Open space voting unit in Ogori, This is 9.30 am and there is no sign of any voting anywhere. Reports reaching me from across the state are the same. This is a big disgrace to our state again under the APC-led government” he said.
Also in his comment, the state chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Alhaji Muktar Atimah condemned the outcome of the election.
Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, he pointed out that having received assurances from the SIEC chairman of conducting a credible poll, he lamented that the council election lacked the minimum standard, describing the election as an aberration to known democracy.
He called on the President to ensure that a holistic reform on the conduct of elections is carried out before he leaves Office, else it would be safe to say democracy in the country has been murdered.
The State SDP Chairman called on the members of the party to observe a month of mourning as a way of registering their displeasure at the conduct of the concluded Kogi State Council election.
Recall that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s local government council elections conducted by the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) swept all the 21 Local Government Areas positions and equally won all the councilorship seats in the 239 wards in the state.
