By joshua KOGI LG POLL MUST HOLD IN ALL POLLING UNITS, RESULTS MUST REFLECT PEOPLES’ WILL — ADC Chieftain, Ariyo Kayode Warns
Lokoja — As Kogi State heads to the polls tomorrow for the Local Government Chairmanship and Councilorship elections, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kogi State, Ariyo Kayode, has insisted that the election scheduled by the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) must be conducted without interruption in all polling units across the state, without suppression of voters, allocation of results or falsification of figures.
Kayode, in a strongly worded statement issued on Friday in Lokoja, warned that any act that undermines democracy, including selective conduct of election and manipulation of figures, will be meticulously documented and challenged legally.
He stated unequivocally that Local Government elections must be held in all polling units in all wards of the 21 Local Government Areas, stressing that any attempt to falsify results, cancel valid votes or manipulate outcomes will not be allowed and will be met with full resistance by the party and the people.
According to him, “Local Government election must hold everywhere. And the results declared must be the true results. The will of the people must prevail.”
Kayode said the ADC as a party insists on total transparency, credibility and openness in the process, adding that the party will not accept any election that is conducted in selected areas only, nor will it accept any result that does not reflect the votes cast by the people at the polling units.
“Our party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) insists on transparency. We will not accept any election that is conducted in selected areas only, nor will we accept any result that does not reflect the votes cast by the people. KOSIEC must ensure that every eligible voter is given unhindered access to exercise his franchise,” he said.
He called on KOSIEC to live up to its promise of conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent election, urging security agencies to remain neutral and protect voters, and calling on ADC supporters and indeed all Kogites to come out en-masse to vote and defend their votes.
Signed:
Ariyo Kayode,
Chieftain, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kogi State.