By Dada Ahmed in lokoja
Mr Idris miliki Abdul,
Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and conflict resolution in Lokoja,
Kogi state has urged the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to organize more stakeholder meetings and other activities, to ensure the success of the December 12 council polls in the state.
Abdul gave the advice in a statement a copy of which was made available to the Reporters, an online publication in lokoja on Thursday.”
The executive director,who recalled that the electoral body had on September 9 announced the time table for the conduct of elections, noted that various activities such as political party primaries had been Conducted.
He, however,observed that not much had been heard from the SIEC in terms of enlightenment on the activities of election to the general public.
He said: “Election goes beyond the political parties,therefore,time for SIEC to be up and doing in educatiing the electorate on election procedure and guidelines as provided in the electoral laws in Nigeria and kogi state in particular becomes necessary.
“We call on the government to make necessary resources timely and available.
“Having failed to conduct elections in to the local government councils in the last four years, SIEC can not afford to fail as the people of the state will not accept any excuse for for failure.
“We urge the political parties not to engage in unguided uttrances and inflammatory statements that can increase the already tensed security situation.
“We call on the people of the state to actively participate in the programme and the process.
“Everything must be put in place to guarantee free, fair, credible and accountability in local government election in Kogi state, as election is not a do-or-die affair
“We call on the security agencies to be professional and maintain neutrality as this is a state organised election.”
