INEC Expresses Worries Of Electoral Violence Ahead Kogi Poll

The Independent Nation Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi state has expressed worries over possible violence during the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, Prof. James Apam, on Tuesday, disclosed this at the unveiling of “Get out the Vote (GOTV), Voter Education and Stop Violence Against Women In Politics (STOP VAWIP)” campaign projects and multi-stakeholders’ meeting, in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.

He said that Nigeria’s electoral umpire had, on several occasions, prepared to conduct credible elections.

While speaking further, the REC said that the commission intended to correct the flaws identified in past elections during the forthcoming election, saying; “we intend to correct them and make this one a test case for elections in this country.

“INEC is doing everything possible to organise free, fair and credible governorship election in November. We have met with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state on the way forward.

“People always blame INEC when there is a problem, but the truth of the matter is that in most cases, the electorate and politicians are responsible for the problems.

“You spent a lot of time to prepare for elections, putting resources together, training men and women for the exercise.

“You send them to the field for the exercise and all of a sudden, someone with a gun appears and starts shooting and before you know what is happening, everything has been disrupted,” Apam lamented.