Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
FOLLOWING reports of already-prepared result sheets before voting exercise commenced on Saturday in parts of Kogi State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended voting in some wards at Ogori-Magongo, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi and Okene local government areas of the state.
The shameful incident of filling result sheets to determine a winner before actual voting reportedly occurred in nine out of 10 registration areas.
YIAGA Africa and governoship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had raised the alarm Saturday morning other X (formerly Twitter) handles to alert INEC and the world about the malfeasance.
INEC had earlier swiftly reacted to the allegations with a promise to investigate the electoral fraud.
In a statement by the National Commissioner & Member, I nformation and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, obtained by Stonix News late Saturday, INEC described the fraud as unacceptable.
“The Commission has received reports from our officials in Kogi State on incidences of electoral malpractices, particularly the incident of result sheets completed before voting.
“Reports indicate that the incidents occurred in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene Local Government Areas.
“The most serious incidents occurred in Ogori/Magongo, affecting nine of 10 Registration Areas.
“This is entirely unacceptable. Any result not emanating from the Commission’s process in the Polling Units will not be accepted.
“The Commission is determined not to reward bad behaviour. Consequently, the election in the nine Wards in Ogori/Magongo LGA (Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben and Oturu) is at this moment suspended.
“The incidences in the other Local Government Areas are being thoroughly investigated, and the outcome, including the way forward, will be announced in the next 24 hours,” the electoral umpires vowed.
It equally vowed to fish out the compromising INEC officials deployed to the local government areas and sanction them accordingly.
“Meanwhile, as the processes continue, we follow the audit trail of personnel and materials to ascertain those who may have been complicit in undermining the process.
“We have a record of all officials deployed at various levels as supervisors, monitors, technical staff or polling unit officials and all election materials issued to them. Appropriate sanctions will be applied where necessary.
“The Commission assures voters in Kogi State that their votes are protected, and their wishes will be respected,” INEC enthused.
Stonix News reports that the plan to rig the November 11 governorship election in Ogori started some weeks ago when the state government began distribution of Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal palliative to folks.
It was reliably gathered that on receipt of the palliative, the recipients were coerced to part away with their voters card ahead of today’s election.
This, it was gathered, was predetermined to regulate the voting pattern with the doctoring of the result sheets in favour of the ruling party in today’s election.
