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Kogi 2019…Live updates

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Kogi 2019...Live updates

KOGI 2019: ‘The people voted for PDP but APC changed the result’, Wada laments

KOGI 2019: PDP candidate accuses INEC of selling PVCs ahead of poll

Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Musa Wada, and his running mate, Sam Aro, have rejected the result of the election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Results announced by INEC in 19 of the 21 local government areas of the state show that the incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Yahaya Bello, was leading by a relatively wide margin.

Speaking on the outcome of the Novemebr 16 election in the state, Wada told newsmen on Sunday that the results announced were written to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He claimed that the deputy governor of the state, Edward Onoja with security agents were moving freely and visiting collation centers where he changed results to favour his party.

READ ALSO: INEC suspends collation of results in Kogi

He also lamented that APC rigged the election with the result of Kogi Central, adding that he and his party, PDP will challenge the result in court.

“The result is not true reflection of what happened. The people of the state voted for PDP but APC changed the result to favour them.

“Results declared so far by INEC is a written result and we can’t accept that. Every single result was changed and we are going to challenge the election. The election is not true reflection of what happened in the field.

“I am the candidate of the party and I don’t have to wait till they kill me. I have to cry out to the people of Nigeria to know that APC rigged the election”.


KOGI WEST RERUN: Melaye rejects ‘Helicopter election’ (video)

Falana, Reps react to Melaye's ordeal

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Kogi West Senatorial District rerun election, Dino Melaye, has declared that the results of Saturday’s election so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were ‘fictitious’.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that Appeal Court on October 11 ordered a rerun election in Kogi West Senatorial District between Senator Dino Melaye of the PDP and Senator Smart Adeyemi of the APC.

Melaye, while speaking to newsmen in Abuja, stated that the November 16 election was marred by compromise, extreme violence, and rigging.

“The innovation is that what we had is what I have christened ‘Helicopter election’. For the first time, rigging has been advanced to the level that now the use of a helicopter in perpetuating this electoral atrocity manifested yesterday,” he said.

“Helicopter hovering around polling units in Lokoja, dropping bullets on innocent, harmless citizens and electorate; and as I speak, yesterday, teargas being fired from this helicopter.”

Melaye added that the violence witnessed in his community should give INEC reasons to stop the collation of results on Sunday.

“Despite the fact that this helicopter was used in harassing, intimidating and firing innocent electorates, the votes of those places were carted away and taken to the government house, stuffed and brought back to the collation centre and they have been accepted and admitted and collation is ongoing.

“They brought mayhem on my own community and even killed my nephew, we are waiting to see what INEC will do, but I reject in totality, this fictitious result and I want to say that all these are not about the election, it is about Dino Melaye,” he stated.


KOGI 2019: SDP’s Natasha Akpoti rejects results, decries widespread irregularities

Natasha Akpoti

Natasha Akpoti

Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Kogi governorship election, Natasha Akpoti, has rejected the outcome of the exercise in the state, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the election.

She wrote a petition to INEC saying that the election was marred by violence and the electorate was stopped from exercising their rights by thugs brandishing different kinds of weapons.

According to Akpoti, the thugs who were clearly loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were acting in collaboration with the security agents.

Akpoti also declared that the election was a far-cry from a credible one, adding that it cannot pass the test of fairness and credibility.

She said, “In the 780 polling units of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, elections did not hold as a result of the violence unleashed by APC-led thugs whom attacked voters, electoral officials and electoral materials destroyed and/or burnt.

“The APC-led thugs were shooting at voters, which resulted in deaths of voters.

“The thugs in most cases were shielded by security agents, who are supposed to provide security for the citizenry.”

She added that agents of the SDP were chased away from polling units with voters barred from coming near the polling booth unless they would vote for Yahaya Bello of the APC.

The SDP candidate also lamented that the name of her party was missing on some result sheets and 2015 stamps were seen on ballot papers.

She added, “In few of the polling units where there was a semblance of conduct of election, there were no result sheets.

“Ballot papers already thumb-printed by voters in favour of Social Democratic Party already tucked into the ballot boxes were sorted out by the APC-led thugs and burnt.”

“The election as it is cannot pass the test of fairness and credibility. Whatever gains INEC seem to have achieved in the conduct of elections in the past will be completely eroded if the election in Kogi Central Senatorial District and some other parts of Kogi is allowed to stand.”


Breaking…INEC suspends collation of results in Kogi

After announcing results from 19 of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of results of the governorship election in Kogi.

Returning Officer for the election and Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Umar, made this disclosure on Sunday evening in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

He said that the suspension was necessary as the results of the election in the remaining two local governments were yet to be brought to the collation centre.

Professor Umar told party agents and other political stakeholders present at the INEC office where the collation of results took place that the exercise would continue by 9am on Monday.

Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been in the lead from the results announced so far by INEC.

Following behind are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Musa Wada and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Natasha Akpoti.

These are the results so far announced;

Okehi Local Government Area; Bello – 36,954, Wada – 478 and Akpoti – 3,095 votes

Ajaokuta Local Government Area; Bello –17, 952, Wada –5,565 and Akpoti – 323 votes

Mopa Muro Local Government Area; Bello –4,953, Wada –3,581 and Akpoti – 95 votes

Idah Local Government Area; Bello –4,602, Wada – 13,962 and Akpoti – 221 votes

Olamaboro Local Government Area; Bello– 16,876, Wada – 8, 155 and Akpoti – 262 votes

Yagba West Local Government Area; Bello – 7,868, Wada – 8,860 and Akpoti – 211 votes

Bassa Local Government Area; Bello – 8,386, Wada – 9,724 and Akpoti – 269 votes

Ofu Local Government Area; Bello – 11,006, Wada – 12,264 and Akpoti – 531 votes

Ankpa Local Government Area; Bello – 11,269, Wada – 28,108 and Akpoti – 399 votes

In Okehi Local Government Area; Bello – 36,954, Wada – 478 and Akpoti – 3,095 votes

Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area; Bello – 15,364, Wada – 8,084 and Akpoti – 364 votes

Yagba East Local Government Area; Bello – 6,735, Wada – 7,546 and Akpoti – 220 votes

Koton Karfe Local Government Area; Bello – 14,097, Wada – 9,404 and Akpoti – 657 vote

Okene Local Government Area; Bello – 112,762, Wada – 139 and Akpoti – 50 votes

Igala Mela/Odolu Local Government Area; Bello – 8,075, Wada – 11,195 and Akpoti – 208 votes

Adavi Local Government Area; Bello – 64,657, Wada – 366 and Akpoti – 279 votes

Omala Local Government Area; Bello – 8,473, Wada – 14,403 and Akpoti – 567 votes

Ijumu Local Government Area; Bello – 11,425, Wada – 7, 587 and Akpoti – 223 votes

Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area; Bello – 3,679, Wada – 2,145 and Akpoti – 244 v


KOGI 2019: Bello coasting to victory as INEC announces results of 19 LGAs

KOGI: NJC delegation directs judiciary workers to accept table payment, biometric exercise

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the announcement of the governorship election result in Kogi State, with results from 19 local government areas already released.

All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello, so far is in the lead in the election contested by 23 other parties, with the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), Musa Wada, and the Social Democratic Party’s (PDP) being the two major contenders.

These are the results so far announced at the time of filing this report;

In Okehi Local Government Area; Bello – 36,954, Wada – 478 and Akpoti – 3,095 votes

In Ajaokuta Local Government Area; Bello –17, 952, Wada –5,565 and Akpoti – 323 votes

In Mopa Muro Local Government Area; Bello –4,953, Wada –3,581 and Akpoti – 95 votes

In Idah Local Government Area; Bello –4,602, Wada – 13,962 and Akpoti – 221 votes

In Olamaboro Local Government Area; Bello– 16,876, Wada – 8, 155 and Akpoti – 262 votes

In Yagba West Local Government Area; Bello – 7,868, Wada – 8,860 and Akpoti – 211 votes

In Bassa Local Government Area; Bello – 8,386, Wada – 9,724 and Akpoti – 269 votes

In Ofu Local Government Area; Bello – 11,006, Wada – 12,264 and Akpoti – 531 votes

In Ankpa Local Government Area; Bello – 11,269, Wada – 28,108 and Akpoti – 399 votes

In Okehi Local Government Area; Bello – 36,954, Wada – 478 and Akpoti – 3,095 votes

In Kabba/Bunu, the Collation Officer announced that there were some issues in about seven wards. From the results collated, Bello had 15,364, Wada got 8,084, while Akpoti had 364 votes.

In Yagba East Local Government Area; Bello – 6,735, Wada – 7,546 and Akpoti – 220 votes

In Koton Karfe Local Government Area; Bello – 14,097, Wada – 9,404 and Akpoti – 657 vote

In Okene Local Government Area; Bello – 112,762, Wada – 139 and Akpoti – 50 votes

In Igala Mela/Odolu Local Government Area; Bello – 8,075, Wada – 11,195 and Akpoti – 208 votes

In Adavi Local Government Area; Bello – 64,657, Wada – 366 and Akpoti – 279 votes

In Omala Local Government Area; Bello – 8,473, Wada – 14,403 and Akpoti – 567 votes

In Ijumu Local Government Area; Bello – 11,425, Wada – 7, 587 and Akpoti – 223 votes

In Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area; Bello – 3,679, Wada – 2,145 and Akpoti – 244 votes


KOGI 2019: Dino Melaye announces death of nephew allegedly shot at polling unit

Police not assassins invaded Sen Melaye’s home –Kogi Command

Senator Dino Melaye has revealed that his nephew, Olorunjuwon was killed after sustaining gunshot injuries during Saturday’s election in Kogi State.

Melaye shared on his Twitter page Sunday morning saying: “My nephew Olorunjuwon who was shot at my polling unit yesterday died this morning. My brother your death is a Supreme sacrifice in the struggle for the liberation of our people. Rest in peace aburo… So sad.”

Meanwhile, the police in Lokoja also confirmed the death of three people during the governorship election.

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Akeem Busari, who confirmed the deaths to newsmen on Sunday, said that the command was still compiling its report on the poll to ascertain the actual number of casualties.

He also revealed that 10 persons were arrested across the state during the election.

He said, “It was gathered that three persons died in Lokoja when armed thugs invaded St. Luke Primary School, Adanakolo, during the election.”

Busari, however, described the situation in the state as calm.


INEC ad hoc staff dies in boat mishap in Kogi

EKITI ELECTION TRIBUNAL: INEC staff deliberately voided PDP vote –Witness

An ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who took part in Saturday’s governorship election has died in a boat mishap at Odogwu, Ibaji local government area of the state.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), James Apam, revealed this during the collation of the governorship and Kogi West senatorial rerun elections on Sunday.

He added the staff was a student of the state polytechnic in Lokoja and was among those recruited for the election.

A minute silence was observed in the honour of the deceased staff at the INEC head office in Lokoja on Sunday.


PDP to INEC: We’ll not accept fictitious results from Kogi

Kola-Ologbondiyan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected what it called the “fictitious” votes being collated in Okene and other parts of the state and entered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party also called for the immediate cancellation of the votes garnered by the APC and Governor Yahaya Bello in Okene.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said “nobody can accept the provocative alteration of results from polling units as well as allocation of fictitious votes, particularly the awarding of 112, 000 votes to APC in Okene.”

According to the party, the people of Kogi State have glaring evidence of alterations of figures to reduce the vote of the PDP and allocate “imported figures” to the APC.

The party therefore advised INEC not to ever declare such “mutilated results” as they will not be accepted by the people.

The statement read: “Our party hopes that this apparent moves to allocate fictitious results to the APC has no bearing with the allegations in the public space that Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC had compromised highly placed INEC officials with huge sums of money to alter the result in favour of the APC.

“The PDP, therefore, cautions INEC to note that any attempt to declare the figures being bandied for the APC will be a validation of the bribery allegation.

“The only way out is for INEC to cancel and drop the fictitious figures being bandied and declare only the results from votes cast and declared at the respective polling units.”


KOGI: 30 purportedly missing ad hoc staff safe and sound – INEC

30 purportedly missing ad hoc staff safe and sound - INEC

The 30 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff who were declared missing following violent attacks on their duty posts in Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State have been found, the Commission said on Sunday.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said in a statement that the staff were safe and sound and had concluded their election assignments.

He said: “We can now confirm that all the 30 ad-hoc staff engaged for the 2019 Kogi governorship election and posted to Polling Units 002, 006 and 013 at Olamaboro III; and Polling Units 006, 012, 015, 016, 022 at Imani 1 all in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state have been accounted for. They are safe, sound and back in their respective homes. The Chairman of the Commission has personally spoken with some of them and they confirmed that they are hale and hearty.”

Oyekanmi said none of the staff was harmed or killed.

“These election-day duty staff could not be accounted for initially following the violent attacks by some armed thugs at their respective duty posts after the close of polls. The Commission has established that none of them was either injured or killed. They were able to successfully conclude the result collation process before the commotion started,” he added.


KOGI 2019: Politicians spreading fake news to invalidate polls —CDD

Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has said political parties used fake news to delegitimise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electoral process during Saturday’s election in Kogi State.

Director of CDD, Ms Idayat Hassan, in the group’s preliminary statement on the conduct of Saturday’s Kogi governorship election, said the electoral environment observation report had previously predicted that political parties would use fake news during the election to cause confusion.

“Some of the fake news circulated today include the disqualification of the PDP candidates, false results, fake images of thugs arrested and snatching of ballot papers.

“CDD fact-checkers were able to debunk most of the fake news.

“The hoaxes are mainly intended at delegitimising INEC and the process.

“Again, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are the leading platforms used to spread disinformation. “

Hassan said that earlier, voters across 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi went to the poll to elect a governor; and in Kogi West, a rescheduled senatorial election also got underway following a court verdict.

She said that at the CDD Election Analysis Centre, reports have been coming from trained and accredited observers deployed across the 21 LGAs of the state, adding that the preliminary statement was an overview of the initial findings on the conduct of the election.

Hassan said that CDD observed use of financial inducements to affect the outcome of the election. She also stated that CDD observed systematic and coordinated violent attacks at polling units and carting away of voting materials.

According to their observations, observers and journalists were blocked from access and taking photographs in what appeared to be an attempt to prevent gathering of evidence of electoral malpractices in many polling units.

The CDD director noted that the use of violence in the campaign and open threats of more violence in the election appeared to be a voter suppression strategy which played out on Saturday.

Furthermore, she said CDD EAC observers reported coordinated disruption of voting across many polling units, with hired thugs invading polling units, shooting to scare away voters, and in several cases carting away voting materials.

“In polling unit 001 in Ward 4, Dekina LGA, CDD observers reported gunfire, violent caused by rival party thugs who battled one other over control of the polling environment.

“These were in Felele and Ganaja areas of Lokoja LGA, especially in Registration Area 08, Oworo, Felele Area, PU 004, in Ankpa 1 Polling Unit with number 2203-04-0 in Ankpa LGA,” she said

Hassan said notwithstanding the fact that INEC enlisted EFCC and ICPC’s support in curtailing vote-buying, vote-buying was very rampant across the state.

She said that CDD observers reported that party agents in several polling units engaged in the financial inducement of voters to influence them to vote for their parties, giving them between N500 and N3,000.

Speaking on INEC’s performance, she said as at 11 a.m, accreditation and voting had started in 55.1 per cent of polling units in which CDD deployed observers in Kogi.

Further information revealed that a good number of INEC ad hoc staff were knowledgeable and familiar with the operation of the smart card readers in some of the polling units observed, she added.

On the late delivery of materials experienced in some parts of the state, Hassan said it was primarily due to logistics challenge and deplorable state of infrastructures like bad roads and difficult terrains experienced in the deployment of electoral materials.


We’re not aware! INEC says it has no report of PDP claim that Gov Bello is altering results

Why we will not act on tribunal judgements now –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that election results from polling units where cases of ballot box-snatching were recorded may be cancelled.

Chairman, INEC Voter Education and Information, Festus Okoye, Saturday said results from volatile polling units could be cancelled depending on reports from the presiding officers in such units.

Reacting to claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello was forcing officials to endorse prefilled results, Okoye said the commission was yet to receive such information from the party.

He said, “If there were areas where ballot box-snatching was reported, the presiding officer is expected to write a report on such incident to the Electoral Officer stating the issues concerned and how they fill into the guidelines.

“The report from the presiding officers from such units will help the commission to determine whether the results from such units will be cancelled outrightly or whether a rerun will be ordered or whether the unit will be awarded a zero score.

“Until such a report is received from the officers on the field, the commission will not make a decision on it.”

“We have some Resident and National Commissioners and other senior staff of the commission on the field. They are doing their job in accordance with the law.

“We are not aware of such an incident (that Bello and INEC were forcing INEC staff to sign prefilled results) and if such an incident is taking place, there will be a report because we have some Resident Electoral Commissioners supervising a cluster of Local Government Areas.”


KOGI 2019: Bello, APC forcing officials to endorse fabricated results, PDP cries out

KOGI: NJC delegation directs judiciary workers to accept table payment, biometric exercise

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that agents of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were threatening and forcing presiding officers, including NYSC members, to sign prefilled result sheets in favour of the ruling party in some local government areas.

According to PDP, this was going on in Okene and Okehi Local Government Areas in Kogi Central Senatorial zone, where the governor and the APC were allegedly bent on allocating fictitious votes and fabricated results in their favour.

PDP alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the results from those areas were compromised asking the commission to correct the anomalies.

A statement by PDP’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan said: “Given the magnitude of the manipulation, the PDP urges INEC not to accept any results coming from the Okene and Okehi local government areas as they have already been compromised. Moreover, the PDP and other stakeholders in this election will never accept manipulated results coming from the two local government areas.”

The party also called on security agencies to immediately “detail a reinforced team to Okene and Okehi to save the lives of the presiding officers and the NYSC members from the APC and agents of Yahaya Bello.”

Ologbondiyan said: “INEC and security officials must take immediate steps to arrest the situation as the development is already causing tension and could lead to the electorate having no option than to resort to self-help to defend their democratic rights.

“We urge INEC to note that the APC is manipulating the

electoral process, causing deliberate delays and swapping of election materials, all in a bid to cause confusion in the process.

“For instance, in Kabba/Bunu Okekoko Ward Unit 9, the baby units have been reduced from two to one, a situation that will lead to disenfranchising of voters to reduce votes belonging to the PDP.

“Also the serial number on the ballot papers brought to the area is different from numbers on ballot papers released in Abuja for the area. Such swapping of ballot papers is a deliberate ploy to cause confusion and derail the electoral process in PDP stronghold.”

PDP urged INEC to immediately correct “all the anomalies as every genuine vote cast must be made to count in this election.”


KOGI 2019: Civil society organizations say election a disappointment to Nigeria’s democracy

Dino sharing money at a polling unit

Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development (PIBCID), 2Baba Idibia Foundation and youth-focused civil society organizations, have expressed displeasure with the conduct of political parties during the governorship election in Kogi State.

They described Saturday’s election in the state as a disappointment to the nation’s democracy.

The groups chided the parties for not keeping to their words of ensuring peaceful participation in the election.

Executive Director of PIBCID, Halimat Sadiq, during a press conference at PIBCID office in Lokoja, noted regrettably that the election was marred by violence and voter intimidation.

According to her, PIBCID, 2Baba Idibia Foundation and youth-focused civil society organizations had earlier engaged in civic and voter education campaigns in all 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi state to promote peaceful elections, which political parties signed peace pledges and promised to run peaceful campaigns.

She said the reports from various polling units was that there were incidents of ballot box snatching, sporadic gunshots, vote buying and intimidation of voters.

Areas affected as disclosed by Halimat were Crowther Memorial College Lokoja, LGEA Primary school Adankolo Lokoja, Fentolu street Lokoja, Muslim Community polling unit 023 Lokoja (police helicopter shooting from air), Felele (one-part system), SUBEB Lokoja, Amole Baptist Road Lokoja, Holly trinity unit 002 Lokoja, Unit 025 Dekina (no voting), Ajaka ward one unit 005 , Kabba and Okebukun Ayetoro.

Halimat further stressed that all these incidents of electoral violence are sad and unacceptable, as youths she added must not be used as instruments of violence and become victims at the same time.

PIBCID, 2BABA Foundation and youth focused civil society organizations further call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties to urgently take immediate steps to maintain peace and order in the state.

The groups urged INEC to cancel all the polling units violence have been recorded in the State, as they call on Kogi youths to shun all forms of electoral violence and exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully.

While they emphasized that children of the politicians who sponsor electoral violence are not in Nigeria, they urge Kogi youths to use their better sense of judgment.


Security men missing as armed hoodlums shoot, snatch ballot box in Anyigba

10 Take Aways from Saturday Supplementary Election

Armed hoodlums have stormed some polling units in Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State and snatched ballot boxes.

Security operatives deployed in the area were nowhere to be found as the hoodlums arrived polling units in cars, shoot sporadically to scare voters away before making away with the ballot boxes.

Anyingba, a volatile area, has the highest security presence out of the 21 local government areas of the state.

The hoodlums took the ballot boxes away undisturbed.


No election in Kogi – SDP candidate

KOGI: SDP members block INEC's gate over decision to disqualify its gov'ship candidate

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti, has decried the alleged level of electoral irregularities in the state.

She said there was no real election going on in the state, especially in Kogi Central.

According to her, many agents of SDP had been attacked and arrested by fake policemen.

Akpoti, who stated this when she addressed journalists after casting her vote, further alleged that Governor Yahaya Bello had ordered people to kill her.

She said: “I have been ready for the past hour and half but each time I try to go cast my vote, there is sporadic gunshots and chanting of violent words.

“I got to know that the APC thugs had been ordered by Yahaya Bello to kill me since yesterday. The sad thing is there is no election going because the SDP agents have been attacked, some arrested by fake policemen because we have reached out to the DPOs in this vicinity and they feign ignorance of having arrested any SDP agent.

“This is definitely not an election, this is almost like a war zone and the sad thing is military personnel and security agents around there are doing nothing while thugs harass the SDP agents.

“There is no election happening in Kogi central, so I can imagine what is happening in other parts of the state. The level of violence is unprecedented.

“Yahaya Bello is upset that someone from Kogi central is contesting against him. All I am trying to do is to exercise my civic responsibility of participating in the election. Everyone has a right to seek for a chance to govern and contribute his or her quota towards improving the state.

“It is quite worrisome to see that the federal government, the IGP and all of these agencies are silent, so it seems there is some kind of conspiracy to enable Yahaya Bello and APC win because he is grossly unpopular. Why all these violence if he has actually performed well?”


Kogi deputy governor moves around with security details, snatches ballot boxes, PDP alleges

BREAKING: Kogi House of Assembly confirms Onoja as Deputy Governor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, of moving around with his security details and snatched ballot boxes.

PDP made the allegation in a tweet on its verified Twitter handle.

The party wrote: “Kogi State Deputy Governorship Candidate, @ed_onoja is currently moving around with his security details, snatching ballot boxes!!!”

Onoja is the deputy governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ongoing election in the state.


PDP claims Kogi speaker, thugs chase agents away

#KogiDecides2019: PDP claims Kogi speaker, thugs chase agents away

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly of chasing away its agents in Gbeleko polling unit, Egbeda area of the state

The party said on its Twitter handle – “There is tension in Gbeleko in Egbeda as the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly chased away @OfficialPDPNig agents and engaged in multiple voting and ballot stuffing with @OfficialAPCNg thugs.”

The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and police to quickly arrest the situation.

The party also claimed that two agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) one Mrs. Idowu and Segun Ojo have been arrested by men of the IGP IRT squad at the Kabba Central Market with large number of PVCs and huge sums of money meant for vote-buying.


Police arrest fake officer in Kogi

RIVERS: Nine arrested in shooting to death of 2 mobile policemen

A fake police officer dressed in black T-shirt, trousers and a black jacket with a Special- Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) inscription had been arrested in Kogi State.

He was arrested by police operatives at the Igala Unity Square area in Anyigba, Dekina local government area of the state.

The suspect was arrested after authentic SARS officers who were on patrol in the area accosted him.

Upon the discovery that he was an imposter, the SARS officers arrested him.


Thugs invade Melaye’s polling unit, snatch ballot box, election materials

Police begins investigation into Melaye’s ‘kidnap’

Hoodlums in black Hilux van and Honda Civic saloon car have invaded Senator Dino Melaye’s polling unit in Kogi State.

The hoodlums, who came in their numbers shot into the air, broke one of the ballot boxes and carted away the second ballot box in the polling unit.

The senator had already voted when the incident happened.


I’ll win this election – Wada

Musa-Wada

Musa-Wada

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Musa Wada, has expressed hope of winning the governorship election in Kogi State.

The PDP spoke after casting his vote at his polling unit on Saturday.

He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the conduct of the election and the security agents for frustrating attempts by thugs to disrupt the election.

He said: “The atmosphere is peaceful but some APC thugs tried to sabotage the process.

“I am happy the voting process has started and I believe I will emerge, winner of this election.

“If it continues this way I’ll say we would have a peaceful election but it’s too early to decide. It can all change because of those miscreants but I have warned the people and security agents to be vigilant.”


Large voters’ turnout in Okene

DELTA: Non availability of ink for thumbing result sheet delays voting

The ongoing governorship election in Kogi State is witnessing a large turnout of voters in Okene, the headquarters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Okene is also the home town of Governor Yahaya Bello, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC)

Voters started trooping out as early as 6:00 a.m. and have been orderly in most of the polling stations visited.


Thugs invaded Obeiba unit – PDP

BAYELSA GUBER: PDP downplays last minute defections from the party

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed on Saturday that thugs have invaded the 06 polling unit, Obeiba Ward 1 Ihima Okey Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The party said on its official Twitter handle – @OfficialAPCNg – “Thugs invaded the unit with weapons and attacked electoral officers and voters.”


Thugs snatched voting material at Ajetachi, PDP cries out

SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTIONS: CDD bemoans attacks on INEC staff, observers, journalists

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kogi State has cried out on the alleged snatching of election materials in Ajetachi polling unit in the state.

The party said the thugs came in a vehicle, hijacked the materials and drove off to Our Lady’s Schools for “rigging.”

The tweet on its Twitter handle announcing the development read: “Thugs just snatched Ajetachi polling unit voting material and drove off to our lady’s schools for rigging.”


Thugs hijack electoral materials, 2 fake NSCDC men arrested in Dekina

Voters in Kogi State have apprehended two fake officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly hijacking election materials in Ayingba, Dekina local government area of Kogi State.

The voters later handed over the fake NSCDC staff to the police.

The Deputy Director, Public Communications of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council in Kogi, Usman Austin, disclosed this to journalists on Saturday morning.

He also revealed that thugs had hijacked electoral materials meant for Odu 1 and 2 wards and Community High School in Ayingba.

“The thugs, who hijacked the electoral materials came in a Gulf vehicle,” he said.


Bello casts his vote

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has voted as the governorship election in the state commenced.

He voted at Agaza/Ahachi Okene ward 07 polling unit 11 at 8.44 a.m.

He voted alongside his wife.


CDD raises concern over vote-buying

ION: APC gov candidate, Uzodinma votes as thugs fight over money he gave them (Photo)

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has expressed concern over reported cases of vote-buying ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Director, Idayat Hassan, the CDD claimed that its observers have recorded incidents of vote-buying in parts of the state.

The CDD also claimed that its observers have observed the distribution of gift items and massive inducement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Supervising Presiding Officers (SPO) across the 21 local government areas of the state.

Hassan said: “Already, our observers have noted the distribution of gift items such as Ankara textile materials and rice in Lokoja and Koton Karfe local government areas. In addition, the latest reports we are receiving from our observers indicate massive inducement of INEC Supervising Presiding Officers (SPO) across the 21 local government areas of the state.

“The reports indicate that one of the parties have made overtures, and has been inducing the SPOs with bribes $1,000 to buy them over, and get them (the SPOs) to do their bidding on election day. These reports were further confirmed from Bureau de Change (BDC) Operators within the state who were interviewed.”

The CDD director also claimed that findings by her observers revealed that there had been an upsurge in the number of customers calling to change $1000 to Naira and warned that use of financial inducement to subvert the credibility of the electoral process is contrary to democratic ethos.

She added: “CDD condemns in the strongest possible terms all forms of inducement of poll officials. The Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) expressly frowns at bribery and all forms of inducement of poll officials.”


KOGI GUBER: We’ll hold Gov Bello responsible for any harm on our members ―PDP

Kola-Ologbondiyan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sending armed thugs to attack its leaders, including Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and its candidate, Musa Wada, in Lokoja, Kogi state.

PDP said that several “hooded APC thugs, armed with automatic rifles and other dangerous weapons, invaded the venue of the meeting which had Governor Makinde, Engr. Wada, his running mate, Hon. Samuel Aro, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, as well as other party chieftains in attendance.”

The opposition party stated this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan.

According to the statement: “It took the resistance of the security personnel attached to Governor Makinde to save the situation, which would have turned calamitous, as the people of Kogi who were around the venue were already poised for a stiff confrontation.

“APC ought to have known by now that their reliance on thugs and violence cannot thrive, as the people are ready to defend their state in this election.

“We urge the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu to caution the APC as well as put every measure in place to check the activities of APC’s thugs so as to ensure a hitch-free, transparent and credible election on Saturday.”

PDP urged the people of Kogi State to remain alert and resolute in their determination to assert their will despite the machinations designed to undermine their spirit at the election.

“It also states that Nigerians should hold the APC and Governor Yahaya Bello responsible should any harm whatsoever befall any PDP member during the period of the election,” the statement added.


KOGI GUBER: Gunmen dressed as policemen attack Gov Makinde in Lokoja

OYSIEC chairman, members, sue Makinde

Oyo State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council in Kogi state, Seyi Makinde, was on Friday reportedly attacked at the hotel where he was lodged in Lokoja.

It was said that some gunmen, dressed in police uniforms, tried to gain entry into the Suitorial Hotels, Lokoja, along Stadium Road, where the governor and some members of the PDP Campaign Council were lodged at about 12.50 p.m.

Makinde was in the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

A statement by a special adviser to the governor, Taiwo Adisa said eyewitnesses confirmed that the hooded security operatives scaled the fence of the Hotel and attempted to gain entrance into the main Hotel.

They were however apprehended by the security operatives attached to the governor and some residents of nearby buildings.

The statement also said that the hooded policemen came in about 100 vehicles and were said to have been led by the officer-in-charge of one of the arms of the Nigerian Police Force in Kogi State.

Adisa quoted the eyewitness as saying: “They came fully armed and hooded. Some of them scaled the fence of the Hotel and made to enter the Hotel proper. But pandemonium ensued, as there was commotion between security operatives attached to the Governor and the invaders.

“However, some residents in the neighbourhood of the Hotel soon mobilised and joined the Governor’s security to resist the invaders.”

The state police commissioner, Hakeem Busari, also confirmed the incident, adding that the command had the information and immediately deployed officers to the place to chase the thugs masquerading as police officers away.


KOGI POLL: Court adjourns suit on Bello’s eligibility till November 21

Tragedy averted as anti-Bello protesters storm APC headquarters

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday adjourned hearing in the suit challenging the eligibility of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for Saturday’s governorship election in the state till November 21.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who adjourned the case, held that the court decided to move the case forward to give Bello, who sought to be joined in the matter, a fair hearing.

The presiding judge also said all preliminary objections in the suit would be taken on that day, adding that any party that failed to show up in court on that day would be deemed to have adopted them.

The suit, dated October 10 and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1221/2019, filed by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on behalf of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Natasha Akpoti, sought the court’s determination on the eligibility of Bello for Saturday’s election, having allegedly been involved in double registration as a voter.

Akpoti said: Tthat by his wilful act of making double registration as a voter, Yahaya Bello, candidate of the 1st defendant is not a fit and proper person to be allowed by the 2nd defendant to vote or be voted for in the forthcoming Kogi State governorship election, having committed acts of electoral fraud.

“That Mr. Yahaya Bella, the candidate of the 1st Defendant was initially registered as a voter sometime in 2011 in Abuja, by the 2nd defendant.

“That Bello, the candidate of the 1st defendant again fraudulently procured from the 2nd defendant, a second registration as a voter on May 23, 2017, at Government House, Lokoja, while his 2011 first registration as a voter in Abuja was still live, extant and subsisting.

“That the said Yahaya Bello, the candidate of the 1st defendant carried out the double registration with the 2nd defendant so as to scuttle due electoral process.

“That such a person is not a fit and proper person to vote for in any election, let alone for the high office of the governor of a state.”

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