Youth groups from Kogi East Senatorial District yesterday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, protesting the alleged exclusion of the district from the ongoing creation of additional electoral wards in Kogi State.
The protesters, under the aegis of the Coalition of Kogi East Youths Associations, accused the electoral commission of marginalising the district in the proposed ward expansion, insisting that any exercise that fails to reflect population distribution, voter strength and geographical realities would be unacceptable.
The youths, who conducted the protest peacefully, said Kogi East, which comprises nine local government areas, deserved equitable consideration in the exercise.
Addressing journalists and a representative of the commission, the leader of the coalition, Isaiah Davies Ijele, appealed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to intervene and ensure what he described as fairness and justice for the people of Kogi East.
Ijele said the protesters were at the commission to register their “anger and dissatisfaction over the deliberate marginalisation of Kogi East in the ongoing addition of wards to regions in the state.”
He described Amupitan as a “brother, father and uncle,” urging him to use his position to ensure that the ward-creation process was transparent, equitable and devoid of political considerations.
According to him, available population data showed that Kogi East had a substantial population and electoral strength, which, he argued, should be taken into account in determining the distribution of additional wards.
Ijele referenced the 2006 national census, the latest officially conducted census in Nigeria, claiming that Kogi East accounted for about 1.3 million of Kogi State’s then estimated 3.4 million population.
He further claimed that the district had consistently recorded significant voter participation during general elections in the state.
Another member of the coalition, Apostle Gideon Isah, commended INEC for what he described as its efforts towards credible elections but urged the commission to resist pressure from political interests in the ward-creation exercise.
“Kogi East is too large to be marginalised; Kogi East is too big to be undermined,” Isah said.
“We are here in our numbers to tell the INEC Chairman and everyone at this headquarters that we will not be marginalised.”
The protesters submitted a petition to the commission containing three major demands.
They called for the suspension of any ward-creation exercise that excludes Kogi East, public disclosure of the criteria, data and constitutional provisions guiding the proposed exercise, and a transparent review based on population, voter distribution and geographical considerations.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of INEC, the Director of Security, Mrs Indidi Okafor, commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully and lawfully.
Okafor assured the delegation that the commission had received their grievances and would convey their message to the INEC chairman, who, according to her, was out of the country.
INEC formally acknowledged receipt of the protesters’ letter before the youths dispersed peacefully.
The coalition expressed optimism that the commission would review its concerns and ensure what it described as equitable representation for Kogi East in the ongoing ward-creation exercise.
