11th November, 2023
By Michael Adeshina
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed deliberate sabotage by unseen forces for the failure of drivers contracted to transport its staff and materials to their respective polling units in Saturday’s Kogi governorship election.
The failure of the drivers and vehicles to show up resulted in the late arrival of officials and election materials in some polling units.
INEC Voter Education and Publicity Officer, Mr Haliru Sule, who addressed journalists on Saturday afternoon, confirmed that the electoral agency made adequate preparations to transport the staff and electoral officers, but the drivers contracted refused to show up.
“As an election umpire, INEC made adequate preparations for this off-cycle governorship election, yet we still experienced some hitches here and there.
“To us, these hitches are deliberate sabotage by some unseen forces.
“We didn’t expect the sudden dearth of vehicles that could transport our Adhoc staff and materials to their respective polling units.
“But all the same, we tried our best and overcame the challenges, which gave room for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the election,” he said.
Sule added: “We are confident that at the end of the exercise, it would be said that it was free, fair, credible and successful.
“We are appreciative of the efforts of the security operatives at giving our personnel and the electorates adequate security cover for a peaceful and successful election.”