During the presidential and NASS elections in Kogi State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) threatened to void the election results in crisis-stricken regions.
The warning was issued by Dr. Hale Longpet, the Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in response to the issues that broke out in various local government areas. In Lokoja.
It was claimed that thugs interfered with various polling places in Anyigba, Dekina, and Mopa in the Kogi East, the Kogi West, and portions of the Kogi Central, where voting supplies were reportedly taken by thugs.
However, Longpet said: “You know the electoral Law says that where there is a disruption to the process, the result will be cancelled, the very particular units’ results will be cancelled.
“The issues initially were only in the Kogi East and Central but I can’t tell exactly where and where in the state have been affected until the results are brought by the electoral officers.
“We understood that because of the violence those affected areas couldn’t conclude the election there.
“I’m shocked that people can go to that level and disrupt something that everybody should have enjoyed.
“Election is a peaceful and willful thing that people are offered to freely participate in.
“Again, If people are given assurance that everyone will enjoy a pleasant experience, why then should we have thugs invading the whole town or the local government, disrupting the conduct of the elections?
“This is very sad and shocking, when you look at the loss of lives involved.”
