Amid anxiety and tension, voters in Kogi State will today decide on who will govern them for the next four years, in an election that will also serve as litmus test for the chairman of the INEC.
The Kogi governorship election, under way in all the 239 wards and over 2, 548 polling units across the 21 local government areas of the Confluence State, will see about 1.3 million registered voters take part.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised 22 political parties to participate in the election which some analysts have tagged ‘the battle between continuity and change’. Incumbent governor Idris Wada of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and ex-governor, Prince Abubakar Audu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are considered the main contenders in the battle for Lugard House, Lokoja.
The election precedes the aggressive campaigns embarked upon by the major gladiators and parties the PDP, whose candidate is the incumbent, Captain IdrisWada from Dekina local government area, Prince Abubakar Audu of the APC, from Ofu local government area and the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Philip Omeiza Salawu is from Ihimain Okehi council and his kinsman Enesie Emmanuel Ozigi of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), from Okene. The INEC in Kogi State said it was fully prepared for the election.
Daily Trust observed that palpable anxiety has gripped the state, as citizens prepare to decide who will govern them for the next four years. The fears are said to stem mostly from allegations being expressed in some quarters that arms were into some parts of the state to be used by thugs to unleash mayhem.
In its pre-election observation report, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) had stated that small arms and light weapons were brought into some parts of the state and promptly alerted the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light weapons to nip it in the bud. The PDP had equally raised alarm over alleged infiltration of some elements to perpetrate mayhem.
Source: Dailytrust
