Kogi Guber: INEC Suspends Election 9 Registration Areas over Pre-filled Results Sheets

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, responded swiftly to an alarm raised by election monitors, YIAGA Africa, over serious infractions in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Kogi State, suspending the exercise in nine Wards in Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area.

YIAGA Africa had earlier alerted the nation about the discovery of pre-filled election results in the affected wards, calling for cancellation of the process according to extant law, and the masterminds brought to account.

The election umpire also hinted that reports of infractions in other local government areas were being thoroughly investigated, and will announce its findings and way forward within the next 24 hours.

These were announced by INEC’s National Commissioner and Member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, in a statement he issued on Saturday.

Haruna listed the wards affected by the suspension order as including: Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben and Oturu.

The action by INEC, he explained, was sequel to reported cases “of electoral malpractices, particularly the incident of result sheets completed before voting”.

“This is entirely unacceptable,” he declared. “Any result not emanating from the Commission’s process in the Polling Units will not be accepted.”

“The Commission is determined not to reward bad behaviour. Consequently, the election in the nine Wards in Ogori/Magongo LGA (Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben and Oturu) is at this moment suspended.

“The incidences in the other Local Government Areas are being thoroughly investigated, and the outcome, including the way forward, will be announced in the next 24 hours.”

INEC assured that it had a record of all its officials deployed for the off-cycle elections, and whoever was found complicit in the reported malpractices would be made to face the law.

“We have a record of all officials deployed at various levels as supervisors, monitors, technical staff, or polling unit officials and all election materials issued to them. Appropriate sanctions will be applied where necessary,” it assured.

“The Commission assures voters in Kogi State that their votes are protected, and their wishes will be respected.”

Below is the full text of the statement by INEC:

The Commission has received reports from our officials in Kogi State on incidences of electoral malpractices, particularly the incident of result sheets completed before voting.

Reports indicate that the incidents occurred in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene Local Government Areas. The most serious incidents occurred in Ogori/Magongo, affecting nine of 10 Registration Areas.

This is entirely unacceptable. Any result not emanating from the Commission’s process in the Polling Units will not be accepted.

The Commission is determined not to reward bad behaviour. Consequently, the election in the nine Wards in Ogori/Magongo LGA (Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben and Oturu) is at this moment suspended. The incidences in the other Local Government Areas are being thoroughly investigated, and the outcome, including the way forward, will be announced in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, as the processes continue, we follow the audit trail of personnel and materials to ascertain those who may have been complicit in undermining the process. We have a record of all officials deployed at various levels as supervisors, monitors, technical staff or polling unit officials and all election materials issued to them. Appropriate sanctions will be applied where necessary.

The Commission assures voters in Kogi State that their votes are protected, and their wishes will be respected.

Mohammed Kudu Haruna

National Commissioner & Member

Information and Voter Education Committee

Saturday 11th November 2023