Kogi: Crisis looms as INEC Chairman refuses relocation of election materials to Abuja for Tribunal sitting

There is palpable tension in Kogi State that may degenerate into crisis as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu has declined the relocation of sensitive election materials to Abuja for Tribunal sitting.

The request for the relocation of Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to Abuja, followed series of attacks on Kogi State INEC and its officials.

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation with strong interest in election issues, Forum for the Advancement of Development and Democracy, FAAD has expressed shock that INEC Chairman has refused to direct the movement of sensitive materials for the tribunal to Abuja from the Lokoja INEC office.

In a statement which was issued by the Legal Officer of FAAD, Oruma Ayuba Musa Esq, and available to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja on Thursday, he revealed that the INEC headquarters under Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu only issued a mere press statement confirming that thugs laid siege to INEC office in Lokoja, but never lodged a complaint to Police for investigation.

Part of the statement read:

“INEC Chairman seems to be the head of the plot to truncate democracy in Nigeria and set Nigeria aflame by the refusal to report the attack on INEC REC in Kogi State to the Police for investigation several days after the attack.

“He has also refused to order the removal of sensitive materials being protected by the military at the INEC office on Lokoja so that the thugs of APC can go and destroy the materials or burn down the INEC office after the withdrawal of the military.

“The body language of the INEC Chairman has become very clear and the citizens mobilisation to picket INEC Headquarters in Abuja will begin immediately.

“The INEC Chairman is not incompetent but demonstrating that INEC determines outcomes of election when the interested parties are able to pay the INEC Chairman and the national commissioners.”

CAPITAL POST reported that fully armed thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress, APC in Kogi State laid siege to INEC office in Lokoja insisting that Certified True Copies of election results and other materials must not be released to the Social Democratic Party, SDP Governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka’s lawyers.

They were later dispersed by the military amid attempts to burn down INEC office in Lokoja.

Few days after, thugs believed to have been harboured in Lugard House stormed the residence of the Kogi State Resident Commissioner, Dr Hale Longpet and carried out a brutal attack with the aim to assassinate him, but he escaped by the whiskers leading to destruction of his properties including vehicles.

Again, thugs waylaid the Secretary of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Secretary, Mr U.D Mike on his way to the Court and stole copies of Election Petition by the SDP lawyers and political parties seeking Justice in the just concluded Governorship election in the State.

In the attack, the Tribunal Secretary was mercilessly beaten alongside two INEC staff who were in his vehicle before thugs made away with Tribunal documents.

The attacks were confirmed by Kogi State Police Command through statements made available to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja.