Hundreds of youths from Kogi State, on Wednesday, marched to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, to express their confidence in the electoral umpire and affirm their support for the governor-elect of the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The youths were led to the INEC headquarters by AbdulRahman Umar,
who warned mischief makers, under the guise of opposition parties, to stop blackmailing the INEC.
Umar , said the INEC what deserved was commendation for conducting the fairest , freest and credible election in the history of the state and not condemnation .
He said the good people of Kogi State “stand by the mandate given to the duly elected governor, Usman Ododo”.
According to him, ethnic agenda had finally been nailed in the state and would not have a place again in its polity.
Umar , commended the good people of Kogi East Senatorial district for resisting being misled by those he said were pursuing their own selfish interests at the expense of the collective good of the entire people of the state.
The protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Ododo is Kogi Agenda”, “The people of Kogi have spoken on November 11”, “INEC, Kogi youths are saying thank you”, and “Kogi has decided”, among others, said they would continue to gather at the INEC headquarters for as long as those they described as dubious politicians continued their evil misinformation.
Umar, the youth Leader also commended security agencies for creating an enable environment for the peaceful conduct of the November 11 governorship election.
“We will never allow criminals and election robbers go away with misinformation.
“We all have a voice in Kogi State and the voice of truth is always louder no matter how hard they try to suppress it.
” We have spoken loudly on November 11, and we will continue to speak until we stamp out ethnicity in our dear state,” he said.
A lady protester, Asmau Idris, said Kogi indigenes were surprised when some people came out to protest against INEC’s handling of the last Saturday’s election.
Asmau said she and other youths decided to storm Abuja to truncate “the evil agenda.
“They told us to come out and vote. We voted en masse for our choice. It was free and fair.
“What else do they want? We will tell them that we all own Kogi State.
“The Okuns are with us in this struggle; the Central are with us; and the Igalas are with us. Our mandate must be protected,” she said.
Other youths and stakeholders from the state who spoke at the rally vowed to come to INEC headquarters for as long as possible to drive home their point.
They said Kogi State is united and not divided on the conduct and outcome of the governorship election.
INEC, had last Sunday, declared Ododo Ahmed Usman of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the governorship election held in the state on November 11.
Ododo polled 446,237 votes to defeat other candidates in the election.
Addressing the protesters, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Security Committee of INEC, retired Maj.-Gen. Modibbo Alkali, appreciated their co-operation with the commission.
He reiterated that the off-cycle elections conducted in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States were conducted fairly and credibly, in line with laid down guidelines. (vitalnewsngr.com)
