After a successful March/April 2015 Presidential and Governorship elections and a breathtaking collation of election results, the country is now set to perform the same exercise in those states which election for the position of the Governor did not take place. They are Kogi and Bayelsa States.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body conferred with the powers to conduct elections in Nigeria.
The body is headed by Prof Mahood Yakubu who has been recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as a successor to Prof Attahiru Jega.
According to section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), the commission (INEC) is provided to appoint date not earlier than one hundred and fifty (150) days but not later than thirty (30) days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.
Sequel to the above mentioned Act, the commission has scheduled 21st November, 2015 (that is today) for the Kogi State Governorship Election.
Kogi state is in the central region of Nigeria having twenty-one (21) local government areas with the capital at Lokoja. It is commonly known as the confluence state because of the existence of a confluence of River Niger and River Benue in Lokoja.
At the return of democracy in 1999, Abubakar Audu was elected as the governor of the state in the platform of the All Progressive Party (APP). He ruled for four years and was succeeded by Ibrahim Idris from the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
During the second tenure of Ibrahim Idris in 2007, he was relieved of his position and Clarence Olafemi was sworn in on the 6th of February, 2008. On the 29th March, 2008, Ibrahim Idris took back the leadership of the state and ruled for another four years.
January, 2012 witnessed the transfer of power between brothers-in-law. Ibrahim Idris handed over to Idris Ichalla Wade, both acting under the PDP.
There are twenty-two (22) political parties that will be represented in the election. But the bone of contention is between the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC). The Labour Party (LP) and the Progressive People's Alliance are also key contenders for the slot to Lord Lugard House (that is the government house).
The PDP candidate is the incumbent governor of the state, Gov. Idris Wada from Dekina local government area.
The former ruler of the state, Abubakar Audu is the flag bearer of the APC. He is from Ofu L.G.A.
The LP and PPA have Mr Philip Omeiza Salawu and Enesie Emmanuel Ozigi respectively as candidates for the 2015 governorship election in Kogi State. Philip Omeiza is an indigene of Okehi L.G.A, while Enesie comes from Okene L.G.A.
It is now the duty of the people of Kogi state to decide who to be their next governor.
For peaceful, free and fair election to take place, INEC have outlined certain procedures to follow. These are listed below.
1. Polling Units (PU) will open at 8am for accreditation and close at 1:00pm. The last person at the queue by 1:00pm will be accredited.
2. Electronic Voter Accreditation shall be used.
3. A Voter shall present himself/herself at a polling unit with his/her Permanent Voters Card (PVC) for accreditation.
4. An officer at the PU shall scan the PVC and the voters fingerprint with the INEC card reader.
5. The card reader shall compare both fingerprints. If there is a match, it will indicates that the bearer of the card owns the card.
6. The card reader shall store the VIN of the scanned card and the accreditation status, if it is successful or failed.
7. Voting starts at 1:30pm. You are to come out to the PU with your permanent voters card and the tag to be issued after accreditation.
8. You must vote in the same polling unit you registered.
Go out and exercise your franchise. Good luck!
Joseph Etim
Joseph Etim (B. Tech) is a blogger, mobile web developer and a tutor with a zeal for positive effects.
Website: Pepetimsblog
Why are political contest primarily between APC and PDP?
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