INEC Suspends Voting Activities In 9 Wards Of Ogori/Magongo LGA, Kogi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended elections in nine wards of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State.  INEC’s National Commissioner & Member Information and Voter Education Committee Mohammed Kudu Haruna confirmed the suspension in a Saturday statement. According to him, the move is due to reported cases “of electoral malpractices, particularly the incident of result sheets completed before voting”. “This is entirely unacceptable. Any result not emanating from the Commission’s process in the Polling Units will not be accepted,” INEC’s statement read. “The Commission is determined not to reward bad behaviour. Consequently, the election in the nine Wards in Ogori/Magongo LGA (Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben and Oturu) is at this moment suspended. “The incidences in the other Local Government Areas are being thoroughly investigated, and the outcome, including the way forward, will be announced in the next 24 hours.” The electoral umpire said in the wake of the reported malpractice said it would probe the incidences and fish out those “who may have been complicit in undermining the process”. “We have a record of all officials deployed at various levels as supervisors, monitors, technical staff, or polling unit officials and all election materials issued to them. Appropriate sanctions will be applied where necessary,” it assured. “The Commission assures voters in Kogi State that their votes are protected, and their wishes will be respected,” the statement concluded.

Police Initiate Inquiry Into Political Clashes, Violence In Kogi

The Kogi Police Command on Sunday launched investigation into alleged reports of political clashes and violence in Kogi as the Governorship election draws closer. The Police action was sequel to a report of alleged attack on the SDP Campaign train at Koton-Karfe where some persons were said to have been injured in the process through political violence. The Kogi Commissioner of Police, Onuoha Bethrand, in a statement issued in Lokoja by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said that the police would not tolerate any act of lawlessness in the state. The worried commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence a thorough, diligent and wholistic investigation of all acts of political violence, accusations and counter-accusations on all the political parties and actors with a view to bringing all offenders to book. Bethrand condemned some politicians whose stock-in-trade is violence and who have taken it upon themselves to cause mayhem and heat up the state through their unguarded utterances and unregulated activities. “I hereby sternly warn all the Political Parties in the state and their supporters to play by the Rules and stop heating up the state or face severe sanctions. “You should all desist from all forms of violence as anyone caught disrupting the prevailing peaceful environment in the state will be made to face the full wrath of the Law. “Moreso that the Governorship election is fast approaching, we are appealing to all political actors to give peace a chance by conducting themselves in peaceful manner and shunning all acts capable of truncating the peace, tranquility and unity of Kogi. “Therefore, for the last time, I wish to warn would-be trouble-makers to have a change of heart and desist from acts of intolerance as the Police is ever determined to deal decisively with anyone who will not give peace a chance in the state,” he warned. The police boss also assured of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of all lives and property in the state before, during and after the Nov. 11 governorship election. He, however, attributed some the crises or violence to the failure of most of the political actors to honour invitations and partake in series of stakeholders’ parleys/interactions, where issues bordering on security and the need to conduct political activities as enshrined in the Electoral Act are discussed. “Again, not all the Chairmen and Candidates of the other Political Parties honour Police Invitations to discuss petitions and/or allegations with the Police, and other salient issues germane to peaceful campaigns, and that of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security. “For the record, several invitations extended to the SDP and ADC Candidates for interaction and consultation with the Police to shed light, provide explanations and give their own side of the story on Petitions written against them, but to no avail. “While these other parties have been carrying the police along in their activities, the SDP candidate has consistently and vehemently refused to honour any of police invitations for investigation, or inform the me nor the command while embarking on political rallies to enable the police provide adequate security coverage. “His (SDP Candidate’s) refusal to deal with the police is undermining peace in the State, has been impeding efforts to streamline and regulate political activities. “It has in turn, greatly contributed to the pockets of political violence being witnessed in the State presently. His riding roughshod and engaging in political brinkmanship and brigandage is an illwind that blows no one any good,” he noted. The police commissioner, however, expressed his sympathy to victims of last Friday’s Koton Karfe political violence that left some people wounded. 

NDLEA seizes 1,699.2kg of drugs, nabs 90 suspects

The Kogi Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has seized a total of 1,699.2kg of assorted drugs this year. It said that 90 suspected drug traffickers were arrested within the period. Alhaji Abdulkadir Fakai-Abdullahi, the Commander, disclosed this in a press briefing to mark a week-long celebration of the UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking. This year’s celebration has the theme: “People first: Stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention”. The Commander said that the assorted drugs included Cannabis sativa, codeine, Methamphetamine, Exol-5, Diazepam, tramadol, Pentazocine, among others. He said that many of the suspects had already been charged to court. Fakai-Abdullahi said that the command had recorded three convictions within the period under review and counseled several drug users some of which were integrated into the society. He warned drug dealers against venturing into Kogi as the consequences would be dire. “It is either they stop or the long arms of the law will definitely catch up with them. He said that the drug war was a task that should not be left in the hands of the agency alone. “The general public must cooperate, support and provide useful information that will help us to get to the traffickers and users. “All hands must be on deck since the Agency cannot do it alone. Everyone must give us a helping hand,” he said.