Kogiflame
Five political parties are expected to participate in Saturday by election in Kogi state according to
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The listed parties are Accord, African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Oliver Agundu, confirmed that the preparation for the Saturday by-election in Dekina-Okura Constituency of Kogi State has been complete.
The by-election follows the death of former Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Enema Paul, on December 14, 2024, after a prolonged illness.
Agundu, through INEC’s Education Officer, Mr Haruna Haliru, said that the commission had held a meeting of Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to strategise on securing personnel and materials during and after the polls.
He noted that all non-sensitive materials had already been deployed to the local government, while sensitive materials were expected to arrive between Wednesday and Thursday.
Training for Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), who are mostly INEC staff, has been completed, along with the training for Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) in Anyigba from August 8 to 10.
“All non-sensitive materials have been deployed to the local government and we are only waiting for the arrival of the sensitive materials on Wednesday or Thursday.
“We have concluded the training of our supervisory presiding officers (SPOs) who are mainly INEC staff in readiness for the election,” he said.
The REC assured stakeholders of a free, fair, transparent, and credible election, urging all registered voters in the constituency to turn out in large numbers, maintain order, and vote for the candidates of their choice.
However, the state is calm ahead of the election. When our correspondent contacted a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who doesn’t want his name mentioned said the situation PDP find themselves in the state presently it will be difficult for them to win the election.
According to him APC is fully on ground and no party can stop them.
Hajia Memunat Idris member of the
African Democratic Congress (ADC) said formation of the coalition will be difficult for the party to win the election.
She pointed out that PDP in Kogi state still have supporters in the state stated that the coalition further divided the party in the state.
