THERE are strong indication that members of the National Youths Service Corp (NYSC) may not participate in Saturday supplementary election in Kogi west and Ajaokuta federal constituency.
It was reliably gathered on Thursday from the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lokoja that the Corp members have refused to participate because of the ugly situation they experience during the November 16 Governorship election in Kogi State.
Source close to the commission further said as a result of the boycott, the commission have resolved to used their own staff for the exercise comes Saturday.
Some Corp members who spoke with Nigerian Tribune name wiltheld said many of them may not participate in the Saturday supplimentry election.
According to them “It was God who safe them during the November 16 Governorship election in Kogi State.
Thugs and some people in uniform invaded part of the polling units, shooting sporadically and then carted away the ballot boxes.
“People were killed because of election and we don’t want to put our life in danger that is why majority if not all will not participate in the supplimentry election,” they said.
During the Governorship election, some people lost their lives while some Corp members were kidnapped by some unknown people but were later released from captivity.
Helicopter was also shooting people in Lokoja and some places in Denina during the election.
However when Nigerians Tribune spoke with Director Voter Education and Enlightment of INEC in Kogi State, Bagudu Biambo he said it was not true that the commission will engaged both Corp members and their own staff for the exercise.
He noted that the commission is fully ready for the Saturday supplimentry election in some parts of Kogi west and Ajaokuta federal constituency.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Kogi State has began distribution of election materials to the areas for the exercise ahead of next Saturday’s Kogi West supplementary and the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency rerun.
The materials which were stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lokoja, were taken delivery of in the presence of INEC officials, including the National Commissioner for Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa states, Mohammed Haruna, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam, Representatives of the concerned political parties, personnel from security agencies and reporters.
Haruna explained that the materials are for onward distribution to the affected areas that the supplementary poll is to be conducted in Kogi West and in the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency.
“We are taking the materials for the 53 polling units in the Kogi West Senatorial District and the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency.
“We are ready; all the materials are here, and we are set to set to receive them from the CBN.
“The charge is that the people should come out to cast their votes and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, and for the politicians to be mindful of their conduct.
“We already prepared for the election on the 16th. So, it’s just a continuation. We have charged our personnel to conduct themselves in a free and fair manner, and the electorates, to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Apam said that the commission was more than ready for the election, as all the logistics and funding have been provided.
The Kogi West Senatorial District supplementary will hold across 53 polling units while the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency rerun will hold in 22 polling units.
