During the Kogi presidential and NASS elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) threatened to void the results in crisis-stricken districts.
In response to the problems that broke out in various Local Government Areas, Dr. Hale Longpet, Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), issued the caution while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja.
There have been complaints of thugs interfering with some polling places in Anyigba, Dekina, and Mopa in the Kogi East, Kogi West, and some locations in the Kogi Central, where voting supplies have allegedly been taken by thugs.
“You know the electoral Law says that where there are disruptions to the process, the result will be canceled, the very particular units’ results will be canceled.
“The issues initially were only in the Kogi East and Central but I can’t tell exactly where and where in the state have been affected until the results are brought by the electoral officers.
“We understood that because of the violence, those affected areas couldn’t conclude election there.
“I’m shocked that people can go to that level and disrupt something that everybody should have enjoyed.
“Election is a peaceful and willful thing that people are offered to freely participate.
“Again, If people are given assurance that everyone will enjoy a pleasant experience, why then should we have thugs invading the whole town or the local government, disrupting the conduct of the elections?” he asked.
According to him, his is very sad and shocking, when you look at the loss of lives involved.
He explained that “election is not war,” so If you were standing in for election to provide services for your people, you don’t need to engage in these destructive activities.
He said anyone who feels he does not want to be part of the elections, he or she does not have to go out there to vote.
According to him, People who have the interest to bring good things to their communities do go out to positively engage and vote or exercise their franchise and they should not be stopped or denied the opportunity.
He disclosed that he went out with heads of the security operatives in the state in a motorcade to monitor the elections starting from Adankolo to Crucial, through to Kabawa and Falele.
He said, “yet in all these places, we didn’t see anyone angry but people were all smiling and casting their votes peacefully”.
The REC expressed happiness that everywhere inside Lokoja was very peaceful, and not even a voice was raised.
