— commends the peaceful, credible and transparent process*
— Task winners to bring dividends of democracy to the people
By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Honourable Minister of Steel Development Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu on Saturday, October 19, 2024, participated in the Local Government Council Elections of the State as he cast his ballot in his polling unit, Ogbonicha Ward, Ofu Local Government Area of the State.
The Honourable Minister who joined members of his community in exercising his civic duty commended the peaceful and credible process and also the massive turnout of voters, commending the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) for the peaceful conduct of the elections across the state.
Speaking to newsmen after casting his vote, the Minister said that he was optimistic of a landslide victory for the All Progressives Congress in his ward and local government, which has hitherto been a stronghold of the party from the founding days of the APC.
Prince Audu also admonished the winners of the elections, the Local Government Chairmen and the Councillors to ensure that they deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the community who have trusted them at the helm of affairs.
“Electoral materials have since been brought to the polling unit, and I am here to vote for the Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates. From the information I got from my sources, electoral materials have been released across the twenty one local governments of the state.
“People are here to exercise their franchise, the right to a democratic system, and to freely elect a Chairmanship and a Councillorship candidate of their choice. The election has been free, fair, and credible, and I am very hopeful that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will emerge victorious across all twenty one (21) local governments of the state.
“So I am here with my supporters, the people of Ogbonicha ward, in Ofu local government of Kogi State, and historically, this is an APC stronghold; we expect that it will reflect in the outcome of the election.
“My advice to the winners is that democracy is about the people; government of the people, for the people, and by the people. We have to put the people at the forefront. If you are opportuned and lucky, as the chairman or councillor, you should spend your day and night thinking of how to deliver for them.
“There are lots of things that need to be done here; there are lots of things that need to be done and improved upon here: schools, livelihood support, health care, security architecture. So my advice is that they should do their job in a way that will be impactful to the people,” Prince Audu said.