Kogi election, disappointment to Nigeria’s democracy, says group

Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development (PIBCID), 2Baba Idibia Foundation and youth-focused civil society organizations, have expressed displeasure with the conduct of political parties during the governorship election in Kogi State.

They described Saturday’s election in the state as a disappointment to the nation’s democracy.

The groups chided the parties for not keeping to their words of ensuring peaceful participation in the election.

Executive Director of PIBCID, Halimat Sadiq, during a press conference at PIBCID office in Lokoja, noted regrettably that the election was marred by violence and voter intimidation.

According to her, PIBCID, 2Baba Idibia Foundation and youth-focused civil society organizations had earlier engaged in civic and voter education campaigns in all 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi state to promote peaceful elections, which political parties signed peace pledges and promised to run peaceful campaigns.

She said the reports from various polling units was that there were incidents of ballot box snatching, sporadic gunshots, vote buying and intimidation of voters.

Areas affected as disclosed by Halimat were Crowther Memorial College Lokoja, LGEA Primary school Adankolo Lokoja, Fentolu street Lokoja, Muslim Community polling unit 023 Lokoja (police helicopter shooting from air), Felele (one-part system), SUBEB Lokoja, Amole Baptist Road Lokoja, Holly trinity unit 002 Lokoja, Unit 025 Dekina (no voting), Ajaka ward one unit 005 , Kabba and Okebukun Ayetoro.

Halimat further stressed that all these incidents of electoral violence are sad and unacceptable, as youths she added must not be used as instruments of violence and become victims at the same time.

PIBCID, 2BABA Foundation and youth focused civil society organizations further call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties to urgently take immediate steps to maintain peace and order in the state.

The groups urged INEC to cancel all the polling units violence have been recorded in the State, as they call on Kogi youths to shun all forms of electoral violence and exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully.

While they emphasized that children of the politicians who sponsor electoral violence are not in Nigeria, they urge Kogi youths to use their better sense of judgment.