Kogi State IPAC Chairman, Ilyas Badanga commends KOSIEC for conducting free, credible, acceptable LG elections

By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja

The Inter party Advisory Council (IPAC), Kogi state chapter, has Commended the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, (KOSIEC), for conducting free, credible and acceptable Local Government elections in the state.

The Chairman of IPAC, Ilyas Badanga who State this during a press conference in Lokoja on Monday, said the Local Government elections held across the 21 Councils of the state on 19th October, 2024 remain one of the most credible elections in the history of the state.

He noted that on the 18th October, 2024, Kogi State independent electoral commission (KOSIEC), invited all registered political parties and other stakeholders for the distribution of sensitive and none sensitive materials before they were shared to all the 21 local government areas in Kogi State.

“We followed all due processes of the election procedure by Kogi State independent electoral commission (KOSIEC.) to the end.

He said the group was amazed, that some political parties that refused to follow the due process of this election by campaigning and sensitizing the general public for votes were saying that there was no election in Kogi state.

According to the IPAC chairman, the Kogi state Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), has performed beyond all reasonable doubt and appeal to all the registered political parties to accept the results of the election as announced by the commission.

Speaking further he said “Some even alleges that Kogi state government house was used as pulling units and collation centers, these allegations are mischievous without any iota of truth because our members that took part in the election were all in the 21 local government areas where results were collated and winners announced in the respective local governments areas.

“IPAC want to make it categorically clear to all political parties to address internal crises before any election, because we noticed that some political parties went into the election divided, and a house divided against itself can not stand.

“IPAC therefore disassociate ourselves from the so called youth leaders of political parties that fictitiously assembled themselves in government house in order to defraud Government of Kogi State. Those youth leaders are not known to IPAC.

“In view of the shenanigans postulated in the process of this election, IPAC Kogi state chapter is of the view that Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has performed beyond reasonable doubt and appeal to all the registered political parties to accept the results of the election as announced by the commission.

“Political parties under my watch should henceforth avoid litigations and ventilating grievances, agitations and disagreement in our courts. IPAC internal mechanisms, under alternative dispute resolution is capable of handling all party squabbles no matter whose ox is goerds.

“On this note, we appeal to the elected local government chairmen to be magnanimous in victory by forming an all inclusive governance where all stakeholders are carried along in respective of our political lining or differences.

“IPAC appreciate his Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for creating the enabling environment for all political parties, Security agencies, that were on ground to ensure free, fair credible, violence free and acceptable local government election in Kogi State.

“Kogi State is the only State we have, l Solicit for all stakeholders to work together for the development of the entire state where ethnicity, religion and sectionalism will never again raise her ugly heads.