ELECTION MONITOR KOGI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION
PRELIMINARY PRESS STATEMENT
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELSEASE
Friday 20th,
November 2015
Election Monitor (EM) is one of
the fifty (50) Election Observation groups accredited by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the 2015 Kogi State
Governorship Election. Election Monitor has 84 observers in its mission who
will be deployed across local government areas of Kogi State on Saturday 21st
November, 2015.
INEC has maintained at several
fora that they are prepared for the Kogi Governorship election. The distribution of the sensitive materials
to SuperRACs (Registration Area Centres) has already commenced. INEC also
earmarked Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th November, 2015
for the distribution of observer kits and already extended it to Friday, 20th
November, 2015 for those observers that could not collect their kits in the
previous two days.
The Inspector General of Police, Solomon
E. Arase, fdc, NPM at the INEC organised stakeholders meeting held in Lokoja on
Tuesday 17th November 2015 assured that there would be adequate
provision of security personnel for the conduct of the elections. The IGP also
stated that soldiers would be deployed to support other security services but
not at polling units. Election Monitor observed some convoys of trucks of
soldiers within some parts of Kogi State and a large number of police officers and
vehicles were also observed around the State Police Headquarters environs on Wednesday
18th and Thursday 19th November, 2015. According to media
reports, the IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge
of Department of Operations, DIG Sotonye L. Wakama, to relocate to Lokoja, the
Headquarters of Kogi State so as to ensure adequate Police presence and
coordination of all security operations for the election. Three commissioners
of police are also expected to further coordinate security operations for the
three senatorial districts.
A good number of INEC National
Commissioners and top personnel from Abuja were sighted at INEC State
Headquarters Lokoja on Thursday 19th November 2015. These personnel
are part of INEC’s monitoring team to cover the 21 LGAs of Kogi State during
the election. Election Monitor calls on
INEC to carry out its activities effectively and ensure it remains neutral in
all circumstances. The newly constituted Commission should use this election as
an opportunity to showcase its commitment to free, fair and credible elections.
INEC should also ensure that it effectively monitors the strict compliance to
its guidelines on usage of card readers.
In the light of some cases of
pre-election violence in Kogi State, Election Monitor calls on the Nigeria
Police and other security agencies to ensure that they provide adequate
security across the state and maintain neutrality in their operations. Media
reports put the expected police deployment at 16, 000 officers. Security agents
are encouraged to allow election observers and voters carry out their duties on
Election Day uninterrupted and without harassment or intimidation. The Nigeria
Police should keep its promise to bring to book all electoral offenders no
matter how highly placed.
Political parties are encouraged
to respect the rights of citizens and adhere to the rule of law in their
activities. Politicians should endeavour to inform their supporters to eschew
violence in all its ramifications.
Election Monitor enjoins all
eligible voters with permanent voter cards in Kogi State to come out en masse and
exercise their civic duty on Saturday 21st November, 2015.
ELECTION MONITOR KOGI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PRELIMINARY PRESS STATEMENT
No comments:
Post a Comment