The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has issued a stern warning that it may boycott the forthcoming Local Government election in Kogi State, scheduled for 19th October 2024, citing lack of transparency and alleged bias by the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC).
This was disclosed by the Kogi State Chairman of CNPP, Comrade Mohammed Kabir Abdullahi, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.
Abdullahi expressed deep concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, stating that KOSIEC has failed to engage relevant stakeholders in preparation for the polls.
“The preparation for the forthcoming Local Government election in Kogi State lacks transparency. It is totally unacceptable for KOSIEC to organize training ahead of the election without any political parties in attendance. Up till this moment, we are yet to know the modalities for the council election,” Abdullahi lamented.
He further accused KOSIEC of favoring the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), alleging that the electoral body is “dancing to the tune” of the APC. Abdullahi warned that such actions undermine the democratic process.
“KOSIEC is supposed to be a neutral body, but what we are seeing today is the reverse. It will be a rape on democracy if the electoral body allows APC foot soldiers to dominate power. Nigeria is not a banana republic, and Kogi State cannot be run like a parallel country inside a sovereign nation,” he stressed.
Abdullahi also criticized the repressive tactics allegedly employed by the APC to suppress other political parties, stating, “The ruling APC in Kogi State has deployed repressive styles to suppress all other political parties and their members, ensuring they have no relevance in the circulation of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials.”
In his statement, Abdullahi warned that the CNPP may back out of the election entirely, saying, “It is against this backdrop that we are informing the world that CNPP might back out of this council poll in Kogi State because we have lost confidence in the electoral body.”
The CNPP Chairman disclosed that an emergency meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, 17th October 2024, where members will decide whether to proceed with participating in the election or to boycott it altogether.
