Kogi Governorship Election: Audu, Wada in battle royale

#Kogidecides: Although 22 candidates have been recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to participate in the battle, only two parties are in serious contention for the Lord Lugard House as the Government House is called. They are incumbent governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party and Abubakar Audu of the All Progressives Congress.

Meanwhile, the election has been generally peaceful across the state, though there was a drama at the polling unit in Odu Ogbuyaga Market Square in Dekina, Kogi State, where the governor and the PDP candidate, Capt. Idris Wada, was expected to vote.

He could not get through with his accreditation as the card reader failed to recognize his fingerprint and that of his wife. The polling unit officials also do not have incident forms to record the fingerprint failure so as to enable Wada to register to vote.

The situation has created apprehension within the polling unit and its vicinity  as many other voters who had similar fingerprint failures face the risk of disenfranchisement.

On the other hand, at the Ogbunicha polling unit in Alooma in Ofu Local Government Area where the APC governorship candidate, Audu Abubakar, is expected to vote, he did his  accreditation at 12.19 pm without any hitch.

Meanwhile Card Readers recorded fingerprint failings in some areas but correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited some polling units in different parts of the state observed that not much hitches had been recorded by INEC officials handling the card readers.

Some party agents and election officials who spoke with NAN in separate interviews also confirmed that there was great improvement in the effectiveness of the machines compared to the last general elections.

A visit to polling units in Okene, Ogori-Magongo, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Kabba-Bunu, Mopa-Muro, Yagba West and Yagba East local government areas of the state indicated that the machines were working well.

NAN reports that only a few challenges were encountered with the machines in Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu and Ajaokuta local government areas of the state.

However, an INEC official in Egbada-Egga in Ijumu Local Government Area, Mr Michael Obinna, assured that the hitches associated with a few of the machines were being addressed.

It will recalled that about 4,000 card reading machines had been deployed by INEC for the governorship election in the state.

The commission said the machines had been ‘’configured, tested and ready to go’’.

Kogi Deputy governor cast his vote at ward 02, Ileteju Mopa, but he said that ‘we are still afraid that APC will rig the election’

He alleged that 10. Vehicle loaded with hefty men have were brought in from the south west. 

Also the Progressive Peoples Alliance has alleged intimidation of its polling agents and supporters in Kabba, headquarters of Kabba/Bunu LGA.

State Chairman of PPA, Ojonuba Simeon told newsmen that the attackers were suspected PDP thugs.

He implored security agents around the area to come to the rescue of the victims.

“We wish to call the attention of security agents to an orchestrated attack on our party agents by some thugs in Kabba.

They allegedly that the tugs chased away the agents and supporters from the polling units, and that PPA is no more in the race.

“The panic approach of the PDP is capable of causing tension if not arrested and normalcy restored.

We are a law abiding party but we owe our agents and supporters an unconditional protection”.

In Kogi Central Senatorial District there was relatively peace.

In Agassa, Ogaminana, Obangede and Ogori voters conducted themselves in peaceful manner.

The duo of Alh. Yahaya Karaku and Alh. Yahaya Bello expressed confidence the polls will be peaceful.

They called on security agents to be battle ready to ensure hoodlums do not disrupt the polls.

In some areas, accreditation had been concluded while some areas with witnessed heavy turnout.

Yahaya Bello, popularly called Fair Plus said the election is living up to billings. He urged the people to eschew violence.

more updates soon………….

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