Gov. Idris Wada; Ex-Gov. Abubakar Audu
INEC promises free, fair and credible election Results may be close
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Ataboh Julius in Lokoja
Palpable tension, anxiety and apprehension are the words to aptly describe the mood of the people in Kogi state as they file out this morning to elect a new governor.
The police looks well prepared for any untoward action with the deployment of over 16,000 officer and men for security duties.
Although 22 candidates have been recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to participate in the battle for the Lord Lugard House as the Government House is called, only two parties have so far shown considerable desire to be taken seriously for the election.
They are incumbent governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party and Abubakar Audu of the All Progressives Congress.
With the return of the Baba Kogi and political generalissimo, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris to the Wada camp, the incumbent governor’s chances looks very bright.
In addition to Wada’s sterling performance, the resilience of Kogi kingmakers, who have largely remained intact since the PDP took over power in the state in 2003, could also, be an albatross for Audu’s governorship dream.
Audu, who has contested all the governorship elections held in the state since the state was created 24 years ago, hopes to reclaim the office he vacated 12 years ago with the help of his party at the centre.
He seems to believe that with the whirlwind of the Buhari election, the state could re-enact the feat to actualise his stunted aspiration, committing his energy and resources with the determination to prosecute the rescue mantra.
Lokoja, the state capital was a beehive of activities yesterday as all the stakeholders put finishing touches to preparations for poll.
People were seen making frantic efforts to travel to the hinterland to cast their votes, while others tried to make last minute buying in the markets to avoid being caught napping with the restriction of movement order which comes into effect with the commencement of the election.
The situation resulted in traffic congestion in most of the exit routes from Lokoja.
For instance, traffic on the Kogi east axis was building up by evening on Friday with motorists struggling to make their way out of the state capital.
Security in the state was further beefed up with the arrival of several contingents of security operatives in Lokoja.
At the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Lokoja, combined team of security operatives mounted a cordon frisking and searching everyone that comes in.
Several journalists and election observers also besieged the commission's office to process their accreditation to enable them cover the election.
Speaking to journalists on preparations for the poll, the Resident Electoral Commissioner Halilu Pai said all vital materials had been moved to the 21 local government areas of the state.
He assured the people of the state that the election would commence on time as scheduled, adding that INEC is poised to deliver a free, fair and credible election.
Though campaigns officially stopped yesterday, politicians, especially from the camp of frontline parties were still busy engaging in late minute lobby for votes.
Sources told THISDAY that there had been house to house campaign with offer of inducements to woo electorates.
At the house of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lokoja, a large crowd of supporters assembled at his expansive mansion apparently to show solidarity and patronage.
PDP Alleges Plot to rig Kogi election…
Meanwhile, PDP has alerted the nation to an alleged plot by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government to deploy partisan military operatives to assist it in rigging today’s Kogi state governorship election.
The party said instead of allowing the forces to concentrate on their statutory role of providing peripheral security during election, the security operatives had received orders to clamp-down on PDP members and supporters to pave way for some pliable INEC officials to manipulate the election in favour of the APC.
In a statement issued on Friday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the development was not only a recipe to civil disorder but also a clear invitation to total disruption of free and fair polls in the state if not immediately checked.
The party said intelligence information available to it showed that some compromised military personnel led by a senior officer of the rank of a Colonel have been detailed by the Presidency to carry out specific assignments in support of APC candidate in the election.
“Available intelligence shows that the deployment to Kogi State of the Army Colonel, who is a known APC sympathiser is part of the fallout of last week’s secret meeting coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), where orders were issued to clamp-down on PDP members and supporters to pave way for some pliable INEC officials to manipulate the election in favour of the APC.
“Compromised troops have already been detailed to Dekina Local Government Area, the largest PDP stronghold in the state and home of Governor Idris Wada, where they have been instructed to create panic, strong-arm PDP supporters, frighten and scare away voters, ostensibly to deprive our party of its expected large votes from the area.
“We are also aware of how the head of Security of APC candidate’s Campaign Organisation, a retired Army General, is coordinating the movement of partisan security operatives into other key local governments, including Igalamela, Ofu, Ankpa and Idah, to harass and frighten PDP supporters and provide a leeway for the APC to manipulate the election.
“The PDP also has information of the copious involvement of a retired police officer, who is working with some men of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) in providing illegal arms, vehicles and cover for APC thugs who have been positioned to attack PDP supporters during the election.
“We find it absolutely shocking that President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government, a huge beneficiary of free, fair and credible election conducted by the PDP, would so early in the day, seek to corrupt the electoral system and willfully attempt to subvert the will of the people.
“The PDP however notes that no amount of force and intimidation can bend the will of the Kogi people from appropriately exercising their franchise and using every means within the law to protect their mandate.
“While we charge our members and the entire people of Kogi state to remain vigilant and continue to assert their constitutional rights and liberty, we also call on the security forces to note that their duty is primarily to the nation and its citizens, and as such must ensure that they do not become tools in the hands of anti-democratic forces seeking to truncate our democracy".
Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, the Chief Communication Officer to The Governor Idris Wada, Frank Shaibu said Specific intelligence report to the campaign committee indicated that the APC had manipulated the posting and deployment of security and electoral personnel in order to achieve their aim.
"Apart from the use of security and electoral personnel, the APC has equally recruited several thugs from the Odua People’s Congress (OPC) and several cultists from Edo State.
"These persons who were imported into Lokoja with a cache of arms were lodged in three hotels. These bandits are led by, a serving member of the House of Representatives and a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students".
Wada ends campaign…
Meanwhile, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, that all campaign activities be terminated effective 19th November, 2015, the Wada/Wonky Campaign Organisation has since then terminated its campaigns.
In a statement signed by the Peoples Democratic Party Publicity Secretary in Kogi State, Bode Ogunmola, the organisation said: “Any campaign material that is seen or heard in the public space (Newspaper, Radio, Social media, Bulk SMS, Voice Call) etc. after 19th November, 2015 did not originate from either our great party (PDP) or was commissioned by the Wada/Awoniyi Campaign Organisation.
“All media houses and advertising platforms are encouraged to get clarification on source before publishing campaign materials. This notice is for record purposes.”
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