The Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, Mamman Nda Eri, has called for greater collaboration among security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible local government election in Kogi State on October 17, 2026.
Eri made the call during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Lokoja.
At the meeting, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and Chairman of ICCES, Naziru Bello Kankarfi, announced that vigilante groups and hunters would not be allowed to participate in the conduct of the election.
Kankarfi said the responsibility for providing security during the council poll rests solely with federal security agencies operating in the state.
He noted that the agencies represented in the ICCES include the Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Department of State Services, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Correctional Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The KOSIEC chairman, who is also co-chairman of the committee, stressed the need to identify likely security threats, map out flashpoints and guarantee the safety of voters before, during and after the election.
He said the commission was working to strengthen synergy and real-time communication among all security agencies, with emphasis on impartiality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
According to him, the ICCES meeting was convened to produce practical measures that would improve preparedness and ensure that the election reflects the will of the people of Kogi State.
Eri assured stakeholders of KOSIEC’s readiness to cooperate fully with all relevant agencies to deliver a successful poll.
The police commissioner also reiterated the commitment of the police and other security agencies to provide adequate security throughout the election period.
He said strategies had already been put in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise and assured residents that the ICCES committee was prepared to guarantee a credible election.
