YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation committed to promoting democratic governance in Africa, has raised the alarm over allegations of forged results in the ongoing governorship poll in Kogi State.
The organisation is one of the accredited election observer groups in the off-cycle elections holding in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states today, November 11.
It expressed a deep concern over the integrity of the electoral process and the potential implications of any malpractices on democracy in the state.
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Yiaga Africa raised the alarm on Saturday, November 11, via its X handle, stating that it received a report of a pre-filled results sheet discovered in PU 004, Eni ward of Ogori/Magongo in Kogi state before the commencement of voting.
The organisation called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ‘urgently’ investigate the allegations.
“Dear @inecnigeria, we received a report of pre-filled results sheet discovered in PU 004, Eni ward of Ogori/Magongo in Kogi state before the commencement of voting. Kindly investigate and address this issue promptly to safeguard the integrity of the process.
There is “another case of pre-filled results sheets in PU 020, Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of Kogi state,” it added.
Meanwhile, INEC has reacted to the post via its X handle.
It wrote, “Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State. The Commission views this situation seriously.
“Our senior officials deployed to the state are currently investigating the incident(s). The commission will communicate its decision earnestly.”
The ICIR had earlier reported that the governorship election in Kogi had been peaceful in some local government areas monitored by the organisation until the claims of pre-filled results sheet emerged.
According to INEC, there are 3,508 polling units across the 21 local governments in the state. The total number of registered voters is 1.93 million out of which 1.83 million collected their permanent voter card (PVC).
This represents 94.85 per cent of PVCs collected. While the number of uncollected PVCs is 99,494, representing 5.15 per cent.
Also, 18 candidates would contest for the gubernatorial seat, of which 17 candidates are male and one female candidate.
The INEC also said that 137,973 political party agents would participate in monitoring the polls.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M