The Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, has commended the State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) for conducting a hitch free, credible and transparent council elections in the state.
The local government council elections in Kogi is being conducted on Saturday October 19, by KOSIEC across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Fanwo, who spoke to newsmen shortly after casting his vote at Unit 004, Takete-Ide Ward 07, commended KOSIEC for the timely arrival of voting materials at all the various polling units across Mopamuro.
Fanwo, who is the Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) Mopamuro Campaign Council for LG Election, said election materials arrived his polling unut by 7:30am
“We received polling materials in this my polling unit as early 7:30am, and as you can see the voting began very early by 800am.
“From the reports I am getting from polling units across Mopamuro, the election materials also arrived very early.
“The electoral officers are doing a beautiful job, they delivered the election materials on time, and ensuring a free, fair, credible and transparent poll.
“You can see that the people are conducting themselves in a peaceful manner because this is actually the election of the people that will usher in grassroot leaders.
“The electorates are conducting themselves in such an orderly manner to ensure that the election will go free, fair and credible.
“The people are being given ballot papers, and are free to vote for the party of their choice among the 19 different political parties on the ballot papers.
“You will only win election when you are popular, so,if you are not popular you cannot blame anybody for losing election. So, this election is free, fair and credible”.
“Nobody is forcing anyone to vote for any party, because Democracy is the celebration of free will and free choice, and that is the choice that the people have come out to do today,” Fanwo said.
He appreciated Governor Ahmed Ododo for honouring his promises of ensuring a credible and transparent election to the people of Kogi State, saying “we commend him for that”.
Fanwo advised the electorates to remain calm and peaceful, saying there should be no tension as democracy remains the celebration of fundamental rights to vote.
On his part, the APC Mopamuro Chairmanship Candidate, Hon. Ademola Bello-Destiny, at Aiyeteju-Agbajogun Ward 09, also commended KOSIEC for the peaceful conduct of the election.
“We don’t have any issue in Mopamuro because everybody is happy to vote for APC our party. I have just cast my vote as the APC Chairmanship Candidate in Mopamuro.
“Our governor is an excellent leader and Chief Servant and has ensure that the election is conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.
“I assure my people in Mopamuro that out LGA will be a reference point that every other 20 LGAs in Kogi will be using as example.” Bello-Destiny said.
Bello-Destiny further commended the security agents for being in ground to ensure a hitch free election.
Also speaking at Orokere Ward 06, Hon. Dennis Komolafe, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Inter Party Affairs, said “I witnessed the distribution of the election materials from the KOSIEC LG Secretariat to polling units which was a very transparent process”.
“We don’t have any issue in all our polling units in Ward 06. We thank our people for coming out en masse to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.
“We appreciate our governor for ensuring a free fair and transparent election as he had promised.
“The election is the best council election we have ever witnessed in the history of Kogi State,” Komolafe said.
The Electoral Officer, KOSIEC Mopamuro LGA, Mr Tope Obajemu, described the election as the most peaceful one since the history of Kogi, noting that there was no voter apathy in the election.
Obajemu stressed that the KOSIEC Adhoc staff had been adequately trained to ensure a hitch free process, saying there was no complain of any kind.
The Ward 07 APC Councilorship Candidate, Hon. Dayo Samuel, said “the process is very okay and we commend KOSIEC for the good work they have done in ensuring credible council election”.
