Kogiflame
The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, (KOSIEC) has said that the commission recognised Moses Peter Oricha faction of Social Democratic Party, (SDP) candidates to participate in the October 19th 2024 Local Government election.
The Kogi State Chairman of KOSIEC
Hon. Mamman Nda Eri disclosed this on Wednesday in Lokoja while addressing Journalists in his office.
He also disclosed that 19 political parties will be participating in the coming local government election
“It is just few days to the council election. We have been fair to the all the parties. Recently, I got an information that the Judge has written to the Chief Judge to allocate the case to another Judge because he felt he won’t be able to give verdict before the election.
” Immediately I heard that, I decided to call the Inter Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) to wade into the matter. They did their findings and came out with this resolutions dated 14th October, 2024 which was signed by IPAC Chairman, Iliyas Badanga, Secretary, Ajodo Moses and ADR Committee Chairman, Abdullahi Momoh.
“Moses Peter Oricha, the current SDP Chairman was not suspended from his Ward, neither was he suspended from the Local Government. It beholds on the party rules and regulations that due process of the law guiding the suspension of substantive Chairman. to be removed without following the due process.
“That any chairman elected under the congress held in the State cannot be suspended arbitrarily without fair hearing. The Inter Party Advisory Council Alternative Dispute Resolution having welded into the SDP crisis, in Kogi State as adopted by IPAC code of conduct as amended in, 2018 states as follows; that after thorough investigation in compliance with the tenureship of an elected: Congress Chairman of the party, he or she cannot be removed without proper/due process of the law by the party’s constitution.
” In the case of Moses Peter Oricha, the current SDP chairman Known by our laws and as investigated by our department saddled to handle inter party squabbles, IPAC has resolved that Moses Peter Oricha, the current SDP Chairman and his led executive Members be fully recognized to participate in the Local Government election that will be organized by Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) scheduled to hold on the 19″ October, 2024.
“We didn’t just want to act on it but we decided to consult our legal department. It is important for every Citizen to know which of the faction is going into the election. It is the Moses Peter Oritcha led SDP”.
He noted that 19 political parties will be participating in the Council election, assuring Kogites that their votes will count.
“As usual, sensitive materials will be distributed timely across the 21 Local Government of Kogi State. I want to assure the People of Kogi State that their votes will count. The election will be free, fair and credible”.
When asked if the Commission will make use of BVAS, the KOSIEC Chairman said “Why we can’t use BVAS is because it is capital intensive. Our budget is not bogus to accommodate that. In the past, INEC used to assist SIEC in conducting a credible polls. I would recall, in 2020, INEC gave us ballot boxes, cubicles, life jacket and where we need canoe, they provided. This time, the only thing they obliged us is the electronic voters register”.
He added that the Commission has made provisions for observers to monitor the election stressing that, Kogi NGO Network has been given the mandate to recruit observers for the election.
