Group accuses Gov Bello, INEC of manipulating results of Kogi West senatorial election 

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

A group, Kogi West Development Front (KWDF) has alleged that Kogi State government and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC colluded to manipulate the outcome of the Kogi West senatorial election in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The group while urging the youth on the zone to resist every form of provocation  is also insisting that the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate Tajudeen Yusuf won the election but was denied him through the collusion of Governor Bello and the INEC.

In a statement co-signed by its President, Alhaji Lukman Muhammadu and Secretary-General, Mr. Victor Emmanuel, the group condemned the alleged large-scale rigging perpetrated against the PDP Senatorial candidate in the district and urged the Yahaya Bello administration and that of local government council chairmen to rethink the legacy they are bequeathing in the state’s historical process.

“In spite of a massive support base across Lokoja, Kotonkarfe, Kabba, Yagbaland and other parts of Kogi West Senatorial zone where Honourable Teejay Yusuf’s laudable developmental initiatives have gained much respect over the years, unscrupulous electoral officials and few others from the state and local governments brazenly manipulated our votes.

“Why should the INEC BVAS be so horribly bypassed on such a large scale across Kogi West Senatorial zone and why should a state Commissioner and his team of hoodlums allegedly use hoodlums to ambush INEC officials in Kotonkarfe local government area?

“Totally and very mindlessly, they ignored possibilities of igniting massive public reactions which have only been stemmed by the strident appeals from Honourable Teejay Yusuf and his associates who counsel youth to peacefully await Judicial review of the manipulated electoral process.

“We had peaceful, orderly election with widespread assumption that Teejay Yusuf whose support transcends ethnic, religious and political divides, is our collective choice; it is extremely provocative that government officials ended up subverting the people’s will with several INEC officials’ deliberate bypass of BVAS and government officials’ use of force.

“The most audacious anti-people affront against democracy characterized the electoral manipulations in Kogi West Senatorial District and current state and local government officials will forever be haunted by their perfidious acts”,  Kogi West Development Front (KWDF) stated.

The group further emphasized the need to allow the truth to prevail, stressing that virtually every part of the  senatorial district spiritedly supported Teejay Yusuf for the senatorial position, only for negative minds in high places to perpetrate manipulations that raised fears about youth reaction, as well as threat to peace and security which Teejay Yusuf team’s commendable efforts have calmed down.

“While there are speculations that a new wave of ENDSARS protest is being planned with intentions of attracting international attention without use of a physical protest, we urge Kogi youths to stand up for peace and democracy by not allowing the Shenanigans of unprincipled government officials to motivate any involvement in acts that can imperil peace and order.

“Honourable Teejay Yusuf’s long years of selfless service and community development and his faith in the Judiciary are worth emulating as we all await objective review of the senatorial election process by the election tribunal,” they added.