Kogi Youths Protest, Accuse State INEC REC, Of Bias
Hundreds of Kogi youths stormed the headquarters of Independent National Commission, INEC in Abuja on Tuesday demanding the immediate removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet.
They accused him of being biased, warning that his continued stay as Kogi REC, would jeopardize the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The protesting youths alleged that he is in close romance with the state Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The angry youths operating under the umbrella of Igala Youth Leaders Assembly (IYLA), Ukomu Igala, and other similar organisations from Kogi East Senatorial District, complained that they have totally lost confidence in the ability of Dr Longpet to deliver a credible election in the state.
The carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Longpet is a disgrace to INEC’, ‘Give us another REC’, ‘We want Longpet replaced forthwith’, ‘INEC, Kogi is not for sale,’ ‘Remove and Replace Longpet now,’ ‘We demand for free and fair election in Kogi’, ‘Longpet Must Go,’ among others.
They later moved to the Unity Fountain in Abuja where Dr. Felix Akor Ojoachele, the IYLA speaker, addressed a press conference giving details of the alleged “malfeasance displayed by Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State being administratively misguided by the State INEC Administrative Secretary Engr. Suleiman Tanko, a close ally of Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, whose wrongdoings have (allegedly) polluted the electoral process, diminished the confidence in INEC, and spread sorrow and unhappiness in Kogi State.”
Dr. Ojoachele said: “This press conference is a follow-up to an earlier letter to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmoud, last month written on our behalf by Ukomu Igala Organisation.
“That letter unequivocally called for the immediate discipline of Dr Hale Longpet as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State. Weeks after the letter was delivered to Professor Yakubu Mahmoud, the INEC Chairman has not shown evidence of a desire to take us seriously.”It is for that reason that members of this organization and like-minds have organised this world press conference today (Tuesday), to reinforce our demand that Professor Yakubu Mahmoud and the INEC Management show that steps are being taken to redeem the battered image of INEC in Kogi State, and to give us confidence that the gubernatorial election is going to be free, fair, credible and transparent.
“This step is to immediately, without wavering, remove or discipline Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet and Engr.Suleiman Tanko as the REC and Administrative Secretary of INEC in Kogi State for their roles in supporting Governor Yahaya Bello to claim that APC primaries held across all wards and Local Government Council Headquarters across Kogi State, which sparks outcry of the possible outcome of the November gubernatorial election, if the shoddy APC gubernatorial primaries can be applauded by INEC as acceptable.
“Dr Hale Longpet and Engr. Suleiman Tanko have been engaged in professional misconduct and biases, which have made mockery of elections and the democratic process in the North-Central State of Kogi State.
“Apparently, their cups are full and running over, so INEC cannot continue to turn a blind eye to their misconduct. The people of Kogi State, have totally rejected them, and INEC must immediately remove them and replace them with people who have capacity to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent polls in the coming gubernatorial election in November 2023.
“Without mincing words, we call on Professor Yakubu Mahmoud to remove Dr Hale Longpet and Engr.Suleiman Tanko, including those Electoral Officers who parley with them”, he maintained.
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