A Chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mopamuro local government areas of Kogi state on Saturday expressed mixed feelings over the rescheduled House of Assembly election in the area by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC rescheduled the House of Assembly election to Sunday March 10, due to wrong ballot papers that were taken to the area.
The ballot papers belonging to Ankpa LGA in Kogi East were taken to Mopamuro LGA, a development that was discovered in the early hours of Saturday (election day).
Mr Yomi Awoniyi,a PDP chieftain and a former Kogi deputy Governor said , they felt rather disappointed as a party for the error of wrong ballot papers committed by INEC.
He said: “All our party faithful and supporters are ready to vote; all sorts of insinuations are being made that it was the third force that is behind all these postponement.
”But like in any other human endeavor, there are bound to be mistake here and there, but we hope that INEC would do the right thing on Sunday.
”Though INEC is trying their best, but as we all can see, there is still room for improvement. I must commend INEC for responding very quickly to making the replacement and giving us the assurance that the election would go on tomorrow,” .
He commended party officials across the political divide for taken the right decision by insisting that the election be rescheduled instead of mutilating the wrong ballot papers that were erroneously brought to be used.
He, however, expressed concern about security threat following the charge allegedly made by Gov Yahaya Bello that all his political appointees must make sure they deliver their various LGAs in Kogi west to APC.
”This was as a result of the earlier election for the senatorial district where Dino Melaye was elected and returned.
”There has been a serious escalation of tensions in Kogi west and even beyond; we have never had it like this before.
”In Yagba west, the PDP candidate in this election was arrested and locked up, and because of his medical condition, he slumped and was presently in the hospital as we speak.
”So, our major concern is the security challenge we are having in the state.
”We need to be assured that we would have an enabling environment, because the threat by the ruling party APC was too much.
”Over the night, our people cannot sleep because of gun shots.
”I can tell you authoritatively that none of this heinous act was from the PDP but everything is from the ruling party APC. Something needs to be done urgently,” Awoniyi said.
He enjoined PDP members and sympathizers to exercise patient and be calmed, and turnout in their numbers tomorrow for the rescheduled election and vote for PDP.
