Youth groups in Kogi State across major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ignore what they described as the anti-democratic tendencies of the Social Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu, and concentrate on delivering on their mandates.
The youths, who staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office in Lokoja, the state capital, said it was normal in election tribunal cases to ask for inspection of election materials but that a situation in which INEC officials would continue to be intimidated would be resisted.
They commended INEC on the credible conduct of the election and asked the SDP to toe the path of integrity and accept the wishes of the people, which they demonstrated with their votes on November 11, 2023.
The various speakers at the protest held by over a thousand youths of the state, described the threat by hoodlums loyal to SDP and Muritala Ajaka to burn down INEC office as a threat to democracy.
The PDP Youth Leader for Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, Oluwakayode Emmanuel, said, “For the first time in the history of Kogi State, we had a very peaceful and orderly election that was violence-free.
“We want to commend our governorship candidate, Sen. Dino Melaye, who accepted the outcome of the election and said he was not going to challenge the process at the Tribunal.
“We were therefore taken aback by Muritala Ajaka whose party has no structure in the State but is threatening to cause a crisis by trying to intimidate INEC.
“We are calling on INEC not to succumb to any intimation by the SDP. The election was the freest and most credible we have ever witnessed in the State. We are also using this medium to call on security agencies to call Muritala Ajaka to order, not to create a crisis in Kogi State.”
Also, Rt. Hon Bello Hassan, former Majority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly, urged the security agencies, the Presidency and other authorities to call the SDP Governorship Candidate to order, noting that it was becoming obvious that he wants to cause a breakdown of law and order in the State.
“We are using this medium to ask President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Alhaji Muritala Ajaka to order. He cannot be above the law. The Kogi election was without mincing words, the best we have ever had.
“The people of Kogi State have spoken and no amount of threat to democracy, wanting to disrupt the activities of INEC, will change the results. The people of the State will resist any attempt to undermine their wishes and aspirations as displayed by voting for the APC,” he stated.
Another protester, who identified himself as Jimoh Suleiman, said, “People should be allowed to go about their lawful business. We are at peace in Kogi State except for the present crisis Muritala Ajaka is trying to create.
“For the first time, we had a peaceful and orderly election devoid of violence. INEC and security agencies did their best,” he said, wondering why Muritala Ajaka and his sponsors were trying to undermine INEC and security agencies for alleged dubious motives.
On his part, Comr. Richard Otitoleke, described the threat by the SDP as a threat to democracy.
“No one is above the law. We are worried that for a party that is structureless, with no visible presence in the State to threaten to burn down INEC and undermine the credibility of the Commission, it is an anomaly that must not be allowed to stand.
“The Kogi election has been won and lost, we call on the SDP to take a cue from the PDP and not heighten tension in the State. INEC has conducted the best election ever in the State,” he said.
Adding their voices, Adams Ahmed and Amb Gege Hussaini said the state had been peaceful after the election, noting that the afterthought by the SDP to want to discredit INEC was uncalled for.