The Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Mamman Nda-Eri, and electoral observers have commended the peaceful conduct of the 2026 local government elections in the state, describing voter turnout as encouraging.
Nda-Eri gave the commendation while monitoring the exercise, assuring political parties and voters that the commission remained committed to protecting every valid vote and ensuring that ballots were counted.
He reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality, saying it would do its best to demonstrate impartiality despite allegations of bias often levelled against electoral bodies.
The KOSIEC chairman acknowledged complaints from some political parties but dismissed allegations circulating on social media as untrue. He also alleged that some parties were making claims after failing to satisfy the requirements for participation in the election.
Nda-Eri, however, maintained that the commission would continue to discharge its responsibilities in accordance with its electoral guidelines.
On voting arrangements, he assured voters that polling units would not close at the scheduled 3 p.m. deadline if eligible voters were still on the queue.
According to him, everyone waiting to vote at the close of the scheduled period would be allowed to exercise their franchise.
He described the turnout as impressive, attributing it partly to voter education and the role political parties played in mobilising and sensitising their supporters during the campaign period.
The KOSIEC chairman said the election represented the final stage of a process that began about 360 days earlier and was being conducted in line with the commission’s timetable.
He urged eligible voters who had yet to cast their ballots to turn out, stressing that participation remained a critical responsibility in a democracy.
Observers Report No Violence in Areas Visited
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, Associate Professor Joseph Aremo, said members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria were in Kogi State to conduct a peer-review exercise.
Aremo explained that the delegation was assessing the extent to which KOSIEC complied with the Electoral Act, the Kogi State electoral law and the commission’s established guidelines.
He expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere at polling units visited by the observers, describing the election as peaceful and the turnout as encouraging.
According to him, the delegation had not recorded any casualty or witnessed incidents of shooting, vote buying or ballot stuffing in the areas visited as of the time of its assessment.
Aremo also commended the deployment and conduct of security personnel, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies.
He said the experience highlighted the importance of voter education and peaceful elections, noting that an informed electorate was essential to sustaining democratic institutions.
The observer delegation urged candidates who emerged victorious to carry their opponents and other stakeholders along in governance.
It also encouraged unsuccessful candidates to accept the outcome and prepare for future electoral contests.
APC Candidate Praises Ododo
Earlier, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate in Lokoja Local Government Area, Abdulrahman Hussein, popularly known as Gentle, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing security for the election.
Hussein also praised the governor for creating what he described as a conducive atmosphere for a free and fair exercise, allowing voters to choose their preferred candidates.
Expressing confidence in his chances, the APC candidate said his supporters had turned out to demonstrate their support for the party and the governor.
He promised to prioritise security, support women in business and promote educational development if elected.
Hussein also expressed optimism that the state government’s efforts to improve access to water would benefit residents of Lokoja and other parts of Kogi State.
