Tag: inec

The results of 63 polling units in four Local Government Areas of Kogi have been cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday.

The results were cancelled over thuggery and failed BVAS that characterised Saturday’s polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) listed the LGAs involved to include: Okehi, Umala, Ulama-Boro and Ibaji out of several others that suffered a similar fate.

The most affected was Okehi LGA, which the State Government had dug some of its roads, a few days before the election, to ward off criminal elements from gaining access to the area.

Dr Emeka Oguju, Okehi Collation Officer while presenting the results to the State Collation Officer, Prof. Wahab Egbewale at the Kogi Collation Centre, said the results of 31 polling units were cancelled due to thuggery.

Ogujo said that 12, 037 votes were cancelled in the 31 polling units in four wards in which voting materials were carted away by political thugs.

“In most affected polling units, there was violence caused by political thugs, who invaded the units and disrupted the entire process,” he lamented.

Dr L. Adang, the Collation Officer for Umala Local Government Area, told the State Collation Officer at the Situation Room at INEC State Office, that 16 wards were affected by thuggery during the exercise.

According to him, 9,558 votes were cancelled in the affected polling units of the area.

Also presenting his results, Dr Adamu Wakili, Collation Officer for Olama-Boro LGA, disclosed that 3, 582 votes in five polling units were cancelled due to thuggery and non-functional BVAS during the general elections of Saturday.

“Aside from the activities of political thugs that affected the election in our area, we had an issue with one BVAS which couldn’t function because of the remoteness of the community it was taken to.

“We tried to see whether it could work, but we couldn’t and only five units in that community were affected. We have reported that to the REC,” he said.

Also, Ibaji LGA’s Collation Officer, Prof Dauda Tanko, said the results of 11 polling units were cancelled in the area as a result of thuggery.

Tanko, who did not specify the number of votes affected by the cancellation, said four Registration Areas were affected by the activities of political thugs.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has distributed sensitive materials for the poll to the sixteen local governments in Ekiti State, ahead of Saturday’s election.

During the distribution of the materials at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Prof Ayobami Salami said the early distribution was to avoid lateness of the materials to the polling units on election day.

He pointed out that everything needed for the smooth conduct of the poll was ready, saying the election would hold as scheduled, as against rumours in some quarters that it would be postponed.

The REC reassured Nigerians that their votes would count, calling on them to come out to exercise their franchise during the election.

Speaking on behalf of other political parties, the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Ekiti State, Mr Owoola Daramola expressed satisfaction with the distribution process of the materials and expressed optimism that the election would be transparent.

Earlier during the briefing of observer groups that will participate in the election in Ekiti State, Prof Salami urged them to be transparent and neutral, and also avoid partisanship in the discharge of their duties.

He told them not to be judgemental in their reports, saying the legitimacy of the 2023 elections could be affected by their reports, hence they must be factual while giving the reports.

“We expect a final report that will guide us in future elections and the report should look at the entire electoral process, rather than concentrating only on the proceedings of just one day,” he stated.

In his remark, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Moronkeji Adesina said the police in conjunction with other security agencies in the state are prepared to ensure the safety of voters during the polls.

Represented by Mr Olu-Victor Babayemi, the Commissioner of Police, noted that a control centre has been created where observations and complaints could be forwarded for quick response.

The materials were distributed in the presence of stakeholders including security agents and party representatives.