The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State, Dr. Oliver Agundu, has expressed concern over the low voter turnout in the ongoing Dekina-Okura II State Constituency by-election.
Agundu, who monitored the exercise in Ayingba on Saturday, said many residents chose to focus on personal activities instead of participating in the poll. He attributed the apathy to poor sensitisation by politicians and incidents of thuggery that disrupted the process in some areas.
“To be frank, the turnout for this by-election is so low and below expectation. The people seem to be more mindful of their activities than taking the election seriously to elect their leaders,” he lamented.
The commissioner disclosed that political thugs intercepted electoral officials in some locations, delaying the commencement of voting and discouraging voters from showing up. He stressed that elections are a multi-stakeholder exercise and cannot be left to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alone, especially when politicians fail to live up to their responsibilities.
Despite the challenges, Agundu commended INEC staff for their resilience and praised security operatives for ensuring a largely peaceful process.
The state Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, confirmed that no arrests had been made, noting that the election had so far been peaceful, although marred by low turnout in most polling units. He warned mischief-makers to stay away from the exercise or face the full weight of the law.
The by-election was necessitated by the death of the former Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Enema Paul, who passed away in December 2024 after a protracted illness.
About the Author
