Over 1.3 Million voters to participate in Kogi Councils election… KOSIEC
Ahead of December 12 Councils election in Kogi State,
the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has has disclosed that over 1.3 voters are eligible to vote for the candidates of their choice.
The Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri disclosed this in Lokoja on Monday during a stakeholders meeting to announced the notice of the election as part of the provision procedures and preparedness for the polls in the State.
Eri who stated that the eligible voters which are 1,340,963 were registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the list would be used by the Kogi State SIEC to enable it conduct free and fair council election in the state.
“This figure can not increase because INEC did not conduct any voters registration since the last election. We also bear in mind that the figure can only decrease as a result of movement of people from one place to another and death which apparently is inevitable.
“Through this voters registration figure we will be able to produce enough ballot papers so that eligible voters will not be disfranchised on the day of election” he stressed.
The SIEC Chairman noted that accreditation and voting would be conducted simultaneously and it would commence by 8:00am and close by 3:00pm to enable collation of votes according to the provisions of its establishment.
He warned that all movements would be restricted except for those on essential and election duties as businesses/markets/shops would remain closed within the stipulated election period.
Eri further assured that Voting would take place at all designated polling stations, as loitering around the polling units would not be tolerated while noting that security agencies were requested to maintain adequate security throughout the period.
He revealed that Card Readers would not be used for the polls as such provision were not included in its guidelines but voters card and voters register provided for by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be largely relied on.
Speaking for the Civil Society Organisation, Mr. Miliki Idris assured that they would closely monitoring the election to ensure the outcome would be the full expression of the people of the State, urging electoral umpire to conduct the election while putting the interest of the people and the state above any other agenda.
Stakeholders at the briefing, including traditional rulers, political party, CSOs, media, security agencies and religious bodies