Gentlemen of the Press;
Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) is the Apex Coalition of Civil Society Networks in Kogi State championing the promotion of participatory democracy, good governance/best practices, transparent governance and network coordination through advocacy and policy influencing for the well-being of Kogites.
KONGONET wishes to congratulate Kogites for largely conducting themselves in a peaceful manner during the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly General Elections held on Saturday the 25th of February 2023. The election came -in at the heels of harsh economic realities occasioned by Cash Redesign and Cash Withdrawal Limit Policy of the Federal Government, as well as the semi-scarcity cum inflated rates of the price of the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) in the country and State.
Likewise, it did not escape our notice the various challenges experienced by Kogites as a result of the late arrival of materials and staff of INEC to some polling units, the last-minute shuffling of designated polling units of voters (Migration of voters to new polling units), and other technical difficulties experienced during the elections. We wish to commend Kogites for exercising restrain in the face of all these challenges and for maintaining law and order as they exercised their franchise.
We wish to use this medium to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the obvious gaps, technical failures and logistics deficiencies as this will go a long way to restore the faith of the electorates in the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. This is very vital to the health of our nascent democracy. INEC must recognize that Kogites, and indeed Nigerians, are holding them to a high standard, and that it is not enough to be supposedly transparent, they must also be seen to be transparent as perception play a key role in winning the confidence of the electorates.
We have observed with keen interest over the years the decreasing interest of electorates to participate in the electoral process as evidenced by the decreasing voter turn-out in the nation’s elections since 1999. We have a unique opportunity to turn this around if all stakeholders, beginning with INEC, would do the right things and restore confidence and inspire hope in Kogites and Nigerians by making sure that our electoral processes are free, fair, credible and transparent.
We do not fail to observe the disappointment and displeasure of Nigerians at the failure of INEC to adhere strictly to it’s Guidelines and thus throwing shadows on the credibility of the Presidential results declared. We urge all the aggrieved parties to follow the rules of law and seek legal redress accordingly. We must avoid over heating the polity and risk throwing the State and Nation into chaos. Elections are a game and there can only be one winner.
Again, a viral video clip showing an elected political office holder destroying election materials should be investigated and if found guilty should be made to face the consequences of its actions that disrupted the process at some parts of Adavi LGA of Kogi State, this time around such obvious infractions should not be swept under the carpet so it serves as deterrence to would be offenders in the remaining elections.
Finally, we want to implore our dear citizens of Kogi State to once again defy all odds and throng out in her numbers to the polls this Saturday 11th March 2023 to vote for the candidates of their choice for the State Assembly Elections. Remember that whoever wins the seat will represent you for the next four years in formulating laws and performing oversight duties over the executive arm of government in the state. This is a serious task and should be treated with all seriousness.
Once again, let us keep the peace as we come out in droves to exercise our franchise this Saturday 11th March, 2023.
God Bless Kogi State.
*Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina.*
Chairperson, KONGONET
The Executive Director of
Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF)
*Mrs. Ibiteye A. Bola*
Asst. Sec., KONGONET
The State Coordinator of
Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA).
For media inquiries please contact:
Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina +234 (0) 70 637 97550
Learn more about #KONGONET at www.facebook.com/KONGONETKOGI or on Twitter @KONGONET and kogingonetwork@gmail.com
Long live the people of Kogi State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you.