Kogi State Government has asked the security agencies to investigate the alleged vandalization of the campaign office of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Lokoja, the state capital.
The government which condemned the act strongly, if the incident ever happened, described it as barbaric, undemocratic and unacceptable.
The govt added that it would support the law enforcement agencies to ensure free, fair and credible poll on November 11, 2023, stressing that an appropriate machinery had been put in motion to ensure the safety of people before, during and after the election.
It made this known in a release on Sunday by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, urging political parties to go about their campaign in an orderly and peaceful manner.
Detail of the release… Below
1. Our attention has been drawn to an alleged vandalization of the Campaign Office of the Social Democratic Party in Lokoja. If true, we condemn the act in its entirety as being barbaric, undemocratic and unacceptable to the people and Government of Kogi State.
2. The Kogi State Government will continue to support the freedom of anyone and everyone to aspire to positions in line with the ethos of democratic values. Attacking the Campaign Office of any political party is criminal and would not be condoned.
3. We call on security agencies in the state to investigate and apprehend perpetrators of the alleged attack with the aim of bringing them to justice and to send a strong warning to hoodlums that the Kogi Governorship Election will be decided by the ballots, not the bullets.
4. The Kogi State Government wishes to warn criminals and hoodlums to stay clear of the Kogi Governorship Poll as the State Government will deal with criminals as criminals. Parties should also desist from making uninformed, malicious and inciting statements that are capable of disturbing the peace of the state.
5. As a Government, we will support law enforcement agencies to ensure free, fair and credible poll on November 11, 2023. We have put machinery in motion to ensure the safety of our people before, during and after the election. Parties are also enjoined to go about their campaign in an orderly and peaceful manner.
Kingsley Femi Fanwo
Commissioner for Information and Communications
