Olu Samuel, Lokoja
Youth groups in Kogi State across political divides troop to the streets in Lokoja,the state capital protesting against the seige on the headquarters if the Independent National Electoral Commission office.
The youths, numbering several hundred staged the peaceful protest at the INEC office in Lokoja, said it was normal in election tribunal cases to ask for inspection of election materials but that a situation in which INEC officials would continue to be intimidated in line with the alleged sinister motives of the SDP and its candidate would be resisted.
They commended INEC on the credible conduct of the election, and asked the SDP to toe the path of integrity and accept the wishes of the people, which they demonstrated with their votes on November 11, 2023.
The various speakers at the protest held by over a thousand youths of the State, described the threat by SDP and Muritala Ajaka to burn down INEC as a threat to democracy.
The PDP Youth Leader for Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, Oluwakayode Emmanuel, said, “For the first time in the history of Kogi State, we had a very peaceful and orderly election that was violence-free.
“We want to commend our Governorship Candidate, Sen. Dino Melaye who accepted the outcome of the election and said he was not going to challenge the process at the Tribunal.
“We were therefore taken aback by Muritala Ajaka whose party has no structure in the State but is threatening to cause crisis by trying to intimidate INEC.
“We are calling on INEC not succumb to any intimation by the SDP. The election was the freest and most credible we have ever witnessed in the State. We are also using this medium to call on security agencies to call Muritala Ajaka to order, not create crisis in Kogi State.”
Also, Rt. Hon Bello Hassan, former Majority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly, urged the security agencies, the Presidency and other authorities to call the SDP Governorship Candidate to order, noting that it was becoming obvious that he wants to cause a breakdown of law and order in the State.
“We are using this medium to ask President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Alhaji Muritala Ajaka to order. He cannot be above the law. The Kogi election was without mincing words, the best we have ever had.
“The people of Kogi State have spoken and no amount of threat to democracy, wanting to disrupt the activities of INEC, will change the results. The people of the State will resist any attempt to undermine their wishes and aspirations as displayed by voting for the APC,” he stated.
Adding their voices, Adams Ahmed and Amb Gege Hussaini said the State had been peaceful after the election, adding that the afterthought by the SDP to want to discredit INEC was uncalled for.
Meanwhile, the Social Democratic party,SDP has distanced the party, it’s candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and it’s supporters from any protest under whatever guise in the state capital and any other part of the state.
A statement issued on Thursday in Lokoja by the Director, New Media,Muri/Sam campaign organisation, David Ijele stated that “Those causing trouble are not our supporters but loyalists of the incumbent.
“Our party, the SDP is a peaceful political party whose ideology revolves around peace and seeking for justice through all known democratic channels amongst other principles supporting humanity. This is why the SDP is seeking redress through the court”Ijele said.