Election Postponement A Blessing -Gov Idris

The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has described the initial postponement of the National Assembly election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a blessing.

The governor who spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote alongside the First Lady, Hajia Zaibab Idris at Abejukolo Ward, Omala LGA on Saturday said the postponement allowed the electoral body organise a proper election.

“Almost all the places that I have heard information about has been very encouraging and I hope it will be like this till the end of the exercise,” he said.

He urged the people of the state to continue to be orderly and to eschew violence throughout the electioneering period so as to ensure a credible election.

Meanwhile, though the election was generally peaceful, there was violence in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area where three suspected PDP thugs were gunned down by mobile policemen while trying to hijack a ballot box.

At Ayingba, Dekina LGA, an area that is usually known for electoral violence, the election went on peacefully.

Some of the residents who spoke with P.M.NEWS noted that elections have never been conducted in a peaceful atmosphere in the area over the years.

An indigene, Isiaka Oyinbo noted that “in the past people didn’t even see ballot boxes because some people would cart them away to thumb print while political thugs would be shooting sporadically to scare away the electorate. But the people are now delighted to be able to vote the candidate of their choice for the first time.”

Also speaking with P.M.NEWS, former Kogi state governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, commended the Attahiru Jega-led INEC for organising a credible election.

He said “I never believed this kind of election can be conducted in Nigeria. And I hope that it will continue till the end of the whole exercise.”
By Bayo Adetu/ Lokoja