Opposition parties commend INEC’s conduct of Kogi gubernatorial election

Opposition parties in Kogi State have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its adherence to electoral guidelines, declaring the recently conducted governorship election as free, fair, and credible.

The parties made their position known at a press conference held in Lokoja, the state capital. Spokesperson for the coalition of opposition parties, under the aegis of United Progressive Political Parties (UPPP) in Kogi State, Idrisu Bala Abdulgafar, praised the peaceful nature of the election and urged magnanimity from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their victory.

“After diligent collation of results from all 21 Local Government Areas, INEC announced the result. We confidently affirm that this election was free, fair, credible, and acceptable to us,” said the UPPP, which included Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and others.

The coalition called for inclusive governance from the APC-led government and the incoming administration, highlighting the need to emulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy of inclusivity.

“The Governor-Elect, Alhaji Usman Ododo, should extend a hand of fellowship to all political parties involved. Building the state is a collective responsibility,” emphasized the opposition parties.

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Commending INEC’s meticulous conduct, they described the election as the “freest, most credible, and transparent” since the state’s creation. Additionally, they applauded the security agencies for their neutral role during the election, devoid of intimidation or conspiracy.

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While congratulating the winner, the UPPP urged all stakeholders to uphold democratic principles and maintain peace for the sake of development.

“We acknowledge that some may be aggrieved, but as law-abiding citizens, there are peaceful avenues to address grievances,” the parties stressed.

The UPPP urged the Governor-Elect to prioritize unity across the state, emphasizing the fair treatment of all three senatorial districts without bias.