In the wake of the local government election that is slated to hold on the 19th of October (today), the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has expressed its concerns over the conduct of the Governor Usma Ododo-led administration as it affects the election.
The party, in a statement signed by its national secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, highlighted its worries as well as warned the APC-led government to ensure there are no irregularities in the conduct of the election, just as it cautioned against breaking down of law and order. Below is the press statement as made available to JustNews.
SDP CONDEMNS THE RECKLESSNESS IN KOGI STATE LG ELECTIONS
The National Working Committee and the leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) hereby publicly condemn, in very strong terms, the impunity and recklessness of the Government of Kogi State at this precarious moment when tension is high in Nigeria arising from widespread inflations, hunger and social insecurity, all traceable to bad governance engendered by those trusted with political power. This is more so as this recklessness and unlawful actions in Kogi are coming when over 180 towns and communities in the State are submerged in severe flood and the remainder of the State, with exception of Kogi Government House, is submerged in hunger.
SDP is particularly disgusted by the odious perpetuation of predatory stance and irresponsive governance style by the present Kogi administration as being forced down on the people of Kogi State through the actions of the Kogi State Electoral Commission. The Kogi State Government, through its Electoral Commission, is inflicting heavy damages on the fragile state of Nigeria as well as the Federal Constitution in a reckless way. It is sad and painful. This is more so when the embattled Nigerian leadership under the All Progressives Congress (APC) is struggling with economic policies and programmes for survival, attempting to calm down restive youths and combating debilitating insecurity crisis caused by bandits on our farmlands, highways and in Government offices.
Kogi State Government actors have once again signalled to Nigeria that they are no more than insensitive and unresponsive despots bent on continuing to perpetuate impunity, recklessness, and predatory governance against the people of the State as evident from the actions of their electoral commission. Take for instance, the following catalogue of recklessness by the Kogi State electoral commission:
a. Planning and hatching a Local Government election which is not in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022,
b. Disregarding ongoing court case at the Federal High Court in respect of the same LG elections,
c. Blatantly tampering with the legitimate list of SDP candidates for the LG election duly signed by the National Secretariat and delivered to the Commission,
d. Taking over the constitutional duties of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party to unilaterally decide on the authentication and functions of officers of SDP,
e. Promoting state actors and non-state actors to prepare and process an unlawful sham of LG election down the throats of the people of Kogi State.
We have noted that Kogi State Actors, by their actions, have glaringly exhibited a very poor image in their operation and tactics of handling and implementing the activities of the state electoral commission, thus giving credence to those who have been insisting that State-owned election bodies should be scrapped and replaced by the National Assembly with a truly impartial and independent body to conduct the LG elections. We have also noted and are particularly disappointed and disgusted with the tenacity with which the Government of Kogi State and its Commission have clung on to the charade of an LG election which is illegal and unlawful. We are furthered saddened that this is happening when Nigeria as a whole (including Kogi) is grappling to stand on its feet to combat the tormenting national crisis of hunger, transportation and grave insecurity; and Kogi State in particular is still unable to cope with unpaid salaries of workers, unpaid pension of retired elders and the vicious effects of current floods which have submerged a significant part of the State under water in over 180 locations with estimated 260,000 people physically dislocated and disfranchised from participation in any election until normalcy is restored.
We warn that caution and justice are required urgently to avoid unwholesome escalation and breakdown of law and order. The Federal Government of Nigeria and Kogi State Government must avoid catastrophic escalation especially at this precarious time when the entire country (including Kogi State) is in a serious socio-economic crisis and Kogi State, in particular, is still submerged in devastating floods of rains and River overflows and is being consumed by predatory governance set up by own Government.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is aware that the current public nuisances and bad governance bordering on outright criminality in Kogi State will not cease until the predators in power are shown the way out, but their excesses must be curbed now to avoid unmitigated disaster in the State which can spiral out of control and negatively impact on the rest of Nigeria. Therefore, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Assembly and Kogi State Assembly have to act in line of their statutory duties to the people of Kogi State to stem the tide and call the Kogi state actors to order to avoid the State being swept away completely by predatory governance.
