INEC Expresses Fear Over Impending Violence in Kogi Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi state, Prof James Apam has expressed worries over possible violence during the November 16 governorship election in the state.
Speaking at the unveiling of ‘Get Out The Vote (GOTV)’ and ‘Stop Violence Against Women In Politics (STOP VAWIP)’ campaign at a multi-stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja on Tuesday, Apam INEC had, on several occasions, prepared to conduct credible elections and would have always put necessary machinery in place to ensure free, fair and acceptable elections only for such elections to be disrupted by violence.
The GOTV/STOP Violence Against Women in Politics (STOP-VAWIP) project campaign was launched by a non-governmental organization, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI).
The REC said that the commission intended to correct the flaws identified in past elections during the forthcoming election, saying “we intend to correct them and make this one a test case for elections in this country.
“INEC is doing everything possible to organise free, fair and credible governorship election in November. We have met with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state on the way forward.
“People always blame INEC when there is problem, but the truth of the matter is that in most cases, the electorate and politicians are responsible for the problems.
“Yes, on our part, we normally encounter some problems but I can assure you that some of these problems will be solved before, during and after election. Our main worry has always been violence.
“You spent a lot of time to prepare for elections, putting resources together, training men and women for the exercise.
“You send them to the field for the exercise and all of a sudden, someone with a gun appears and starts shooting and before you know what is happening, everything has been disrupted,” Apam lamented.
He called on parents to educate their wards against violence and see how the November Governorship election can be free and fair.
In her welcome remarks, the Executive Director, Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Eunice Abimbola Agbogun said the programme was organised as the state is getting set for the November governorship election.
She bemoaned the near non-inclusion of women in Nigeria politics and warned that Kogi state cannot afford to relegate half its population to the back and expect to move forward.
Speaking at the unveiling of ‘Get Out The Vote (GOTV)’ and ‘Stop Violence Against Women In Politics (STOP VAWIP)’ campaign at a multi-stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja on Tuesday, Apam INEC had, on several occasions, prepared to conduct credible elections and would have always put necessary machinery in place to ensure free, fair and acceptable elections only for such elections to be disrupted by violence.
The GOTV/STOP Violence Against Women in Politics (STOP-VAWIP) project campaign was launched by a non-governmental organization, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI).
The REC said that the commission intended to correct the flaws identified in past elections during the forthcoming election, saying “we intend to correct them and make this one a test case for elections in this country.
“INEC is doing everything possible to organise free, fair and credible governorship election in November. We have met with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state on the way forward.
“People always blame INEC when there is problem, but the truth of the matter is that in most cases, the electorate and politicians are responsible for the problems.
“Yes, on our part, we normally encounter some problems but I can assure you that some of these problems will be solved before, during and after election. Our main worry has always been violence.
“You spent a lot of time to prepare for elections, putting resources together, training men and women for the exercise.
“You send them to the field for the exercise and all of a sudden, someone with a gun appears and starts shooting and before you know what is happening, everything has been disrupted,” Apam lamented.
He called on parents to educate their wards against violence and see how the November Governorship election can be free and fair.
In her welcome remarks, the Executive Director, Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Eunice Abimbola Agbogun said the programme was organised as the state is getting set for the November governorship election.
She bemoaned the near non-inclusion of women in Nigeria politics and warned that Kogi state cannot afford to relegate half its population to the back and expect to move forward.
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