By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi has said that non of the Commission’s offices in the state was bombed as erroneously published by an online media organisation.
Longpet stated this on Tuesday in Lokoja while briefing newsmen on the state of preparedness of the Commission for the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
He said that the report that INEC office at Obangede, Headquarters of Okehi Local Government Area was burnt down was not true and described it as “Fake news” orchestrated by enemies of the commission.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner however stated that there was an explosion at the Local Government Council Secretariat in the early hours of the day.
According to him, the commission is ready for the forthcoming General Elections, saying that over 1.6 million people in Kogi state had collected their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to exercise their franchise during the election.
The REC also disclosed that 3,508 Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) machines had been received, saying upon testing, 24 of the BVAS were found to be defective and were immediately sent back for replacement.
Longpet added that additional 282 BVAS were also sent to the state as backup to ensure smooth conduct of the general election adding that the recent mock elections had confirmed the preparedness of the Commission.
“We embarked on mock election to test the integrity of the BVAS and we are satisfied. Two Local Government Areas were selected from each of the three Senatorial Districts of the state for the mock election.
“We are satisfied and confident going into the general election. With this mock election, people are now very sure that the election will hold”, he said.
The REC charged politicians and political leaders to sensitize their supporters against violence before, during and after the elections.
Longpet urged political parties to play the game by the rules as he assured that votes would count.
