People suspected to be thugs and supporters of a political stormed the Lokoja, Kogi State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and prevented its staff from performing their assigned duties on Wednesday.
The Commission which described the invaders as a mob in a statement, assured that it was committed to granting unhindered access to all materials needed political parties to prosecute their petitions.
The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State wishes to inform the public that the State Headquarters in Lokoja was besieged this morning by a mob that barricaded all entrances to the office and prevented access to staff to carry out routine duties.
“The siege also prevented Attorneys representing political parties involved in the recent off-cycle governorship election from inspecting documents/materials used in the election.
“It took the intervention of the Nigerian Army to calm the situation down at the State Headquarters. The security agencies have assured us that they will maintain normalcy on our premises.
“We assure all parties and litigants that the Kogi State office is committed to granting unimpeded access to all materials needed to prosecute their petitions.”
Meanwhile, the All Progress Congress, (APC), Campaign Council has expressed concern over the Wednesday invasion of INEC Lokoja office by persons believed to be supporters of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), and its Governorship candidate in the November 11 off – election circle in the state.
Kogi APC Campaign Council accused the opposition SDP which it described as confused, of harassing the electoral commission and lacking evidence to back rigging claims.
Dismissing the allegations as senseless, it alleged that the supporters and thugs loyal to the defeated opposition party appeared determined to destroy every relevant government institution just to maintain the SDP false claim to popularity.
The Campaign Council Spokesperson/Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Lokoja, the state capital.
Fanwo called on APC supporters to remain law abiding in the face of glaring provocation, saying ‘War is about using one’s best to the worst to oneself,’ even as he also expressed the confidence that the Governor-Elect, Alhaji Usman Ododo, will be sworn in on January 27, 2024 to advance the frontiers of development in Kogi State.
“The failed attack by supporters and thugs of the Social Democratic Party to attack the State INEC Office in Lokoja has confirmed our recent alarm that the party is determined to destroy every relevant government institution just to maintain their false claim to popularity.
“The attempted plan to lynch INEC staff and burn down the INEC Office was gallantly averted by security agents. Their promptness and professionalism is highly commended as their timely intervention saved what would have been a bloody day as weapon-wielding thugs of the SDP were dangerously threatening to make the state ungovernable.
“The laughable story of the SDP that the thugs were hired by our party is no deviation from their culture of terrible and senseless propaganda and strategy to blame everyone else for their own actions. It is high time the thoroughly defeated candidate of the SDP and his co-travellers to an unknown destination are arrested to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
“We call on APC supporters to remain law abiding in the face of glaring provocation. War is about using one’s best to the worst to oneself. The Governor-Elect will be sworn in on January 27, 2024 to advance the frontiers of development in our dear state.
“As earlier stated, we wish to reiterate our readiness for any legal challenge as we know we won an election adjudged as the freest and fairest in the history of our dear state,” Fanwo stated.
