The recently concluded Kogi State governorship election has been
described as peaceful and the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) commended for living up to their duty.
An observer group, the Coalition for Transparent Elections in Africa
(CTEAN), at a press conference yesterday in Abuja to present its
preliminary report of the Kogi election said the election was adjudged
free and fair.
Convener of CTEAN, Nelson Ogbu, at the conference said that their
observers were on ground in Kogi and followed through with the
deployment of INEC officials and sensitive election materials as well
as the general conduct of political parties and elections
stakeholders, including security operatives.
“We note with a sense of satisfaction that the election in Kogi State
was relatively peaceful and the electoral umpire, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) were alive to their duty as the
election was adjudged free and fair even by the teeming Kogi
electorate.
“Our observations indicated that the election substantially conformed
to established electoral laws in Nigeria.
“We commend the great people of Kogi State, various security agencies
and other observer groups for their matured conducts during and after
the said governorship elections in Kogi State,” Ogbu said.
Ogbu further stated that there was no post-election violence that is
always the characteristics of off-cycle elections.
He also said the voting pattern in Kogi State suggests that the
various candidates showed strength in their respective strongholds,
meaning that INEC provided a level playing field for all the political
parties during the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
Ogbu commended the various security organisations for their
professionalism in the process and the media for keeping the general
public up to date of the developments in the state.