By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday in Lokoja, assured of the readiness of the commission for the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
Yakubu who was represented by the National Commissioner supervising Kogi, Niger and Kwara states, Prof. Sani Mohammed Adam, gave the assurances while declaring open the Kogi State Governorship Election Stakeholders Meeting held at Edge Drive Hotel, Lokoja.
He pointed out that INEC has concluded the training of Ad-hoc staff, while all the sensitive materials for the elections had been distributed.
The chairman therefore enjoined all the governorship candidates of political parties to play the game by the rules and advise members not to be violent during and after the election.
Earlier the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Dr. Gabriel Longpet, assured that he would change the narrative of election before the expiration of his tenure in Kogi state.
He therefore charged all governorship candidates in the state to caution their supporters to guide against hate speech, violence and told to play the game according to the rules.
The Kogi state Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha who represented the Inspector General of Police assured the electorate of the readiness of the security personnel towards a successful election in Kogi state.
The police who blamed political actors of being agents of blackmail, however, enjoined them to be considerate, guide against hate speech and name calling adding, “election will come and go and you will still remain brothers and sisters.”
He appealed to traditional rulers to caution their subjects not to take law into their hands but to be law abiding throughout election period.
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