The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attributed the late arrival of officials and election materials in some polling units during the Kogi State governorship election to what it alleges as deliberate sabotage by unseen forces. INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity Officer in the state, Haliru Sule, shared this information during an interview with newsmen.
Sule expressed the electoral body’s disappointment in facing unexpected challenges despite making adequate preparations for the off-circle governorship election. He highlighted a sudden shortage of vehicles to transport Adhoc staff and materials to their designated polling units as a major setback.
In his statement, Sule said, “To us, these hitches are deliberate sabotage by some unseen forces. We didn’t expect the sudden dearth of vehicles that could transport our Adhoc staff and materials to their respective polling units.”
Despite the challenges, Sule emphasized that INEC made efforts to overcome the obstacles, ensuring a smooth and peaceful conduct of the election. He praised the collaboration with security operatives, acknowledging their role in providing adequate security cover for both INEC personnel and voters.
“We are confident that at the end of the exercise, it would be said that it was free, fair, credible, and successful,” Sule stated, expressing optimism about the overall outcome of the governorship election in Kogi State.
The late arrival of officials and materials is a recurring challenge in Nigerian elections, and INEC’s assertion of sabotage underscores the need for enhanced measures to ensure the efficient and timely conduct of future electoral processes.
