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Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of Kogi State that the commission has put in place necessary machinery to ensure conclusive election in the November 16, 2019 governorship election.

He also disclosed that no fewer than twenty five thousands security personnel will be deployed to protect the lives and property of the electorate and all election duty officials.

The Chairman gave the assurance on Thursday in Lokoja, during the INEC organised Stakeholders meeting to brainstorm on ways to have peaceful, fair, credible and conclusive election in the state.

Professor Yakubu reminded the people that election is supposed to be a demonstration of Independence and not to be misconstrued as going to war, urged them to consider it as a civic responsibility in contributing to National Development.
He added that the commission has high regard for peaceful election in the state and to achieve his goal, he is ready to come to the state on weekly basis, if that will guarantee violence-free election in the state.

He challenged all the stakeholders to prove the cynics wrong that after all, they can protect the integrity of the state by conducting themselves in a manner conformable to the tenets of modern democracy.

He warned the major political actors to play the game within the rules and to avoid the use of hate speech, vulgar languages during campaigns.

The INEC boss frowns at the conduct of some politicians who indulge in the buying of votes thereby denying the electorate their freedom of choice, saying the commission has mapped out strategies to arrest the ugly trend.

He added that the commission in a bid to checkmate the mistakes of the past has begun in earnest in the training of security personnel, Journalists, civil society groups and other stakeholders saying the ad-hoc staff would be given a letter of engagement for them to take responsibility of their actions.

He explained that the commission has made adequate preparation for their welfare and upkeep warning politicians to avoid giving bribes and inducement to the officials promising to deal with any deviant politicians and their proxies.

He assured the people that it has commenced the publication of the accredited observers both on the commission websites and on major national newspapers.

In the same vein, the Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC) Professor James Apam promised to deliver a free, fair and credible election saying that the commission has perfected all necessary arrangements that will make the election a huge success.

In his remark, the governor, and the governorship candidate of the APC Governor Yahaya Bello explained that on assumption in office, he was able to bring down the insecurity level in the state.
He said he will not tolerate and encourage acts of thuggery and criminality since he came to office without violence, he will not indulge in violence to be returned to office for the second tenure.

The governor added that he will be very glad for the forthcoming election to follow the style of the APC primary election where no single outbreak of violence was recorded.

He called on the other candidates to work for the peaceful election saying that violence does not do anyone any good.

In the same vein, the candidate of the PDP Engineer Musa Wada stated that his party is committed to a peaceful election saying his ambition does not worth the blood of any Kogi citizenry.

He called on the relevant authorities to mop up illegal small arms in the hands of unauthorized persons across the state to prevent the trouble makers from harassing and molesting hapless electorate before, during and after the election.

While calling on the people to ensure peaceful coexistence at all times, the Inspector-General of Police IG Mohamed Adamu said he will deploy 25, 000 policemen to cover the election.

Represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police DIG, Abdulmalik Alih said the police is ready and capable to prevent the breakdown of law and order during the election.

He urged the citizens to approach the election as a game between two teams in which a winner must emerge and not about going to the war.

 

Independence

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