It will be recalled that the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) recently announced the time table for the conduct of elections in to the local government councils on the 9th September 2020.
Since then various activities such as political party primaries have been Conducted. It has been observed that not much have been heard from the SIEC in terms of enlightenment on the activities of election to the general public.
Election goes beyond the political parties as it is not members of parties that always vote on elections day. Therefore time for SIEC to be up and doing in educatiing the electorates on election procedure and guidelines as provided in the electoral laws in Nigeria and kogi state in particular becomes necessary.
We urge the SIEC to organize more stake holder meetings and activities, so as enable them evaluate and to correct lapses that may exist. We call on the government to make necessary resources timely and available.
Having failed to conduct elections in to the local government councils in the last four years, SIEC can not afford to fail as the people of the state will not accept any excuse for for failure.
We urge the political parties not to engage in unguided uttrances and inflammatory statement that can increase the already tensed security situation.
We call on the people of the state to actively participate in the program and the process. Everything must be put in place to guarantee free, fair, credible and accountability local government elections in Kogi state as election is do or die.
We call on the security agencies to be professional and maintain neutrality as this is a state organised elections coming up on the 12 December 2020.
Idris Miliki Abdul,
Executive Director,
Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Lokoja, Kogi state