The majority of the major political parties’ rallies have drawn an unprecedentedly large turnout ahead of Kogi State’s governorship election on November 11.
These are the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
All of the major parties are asserting their supremacy.
Still, it’s unclear if the electorate will turn victorious during the polls.
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The three major parties are not backing down with nine days till the elections, and some of the smaller parties’ members are occupied with cross-promotion.
However, OBASANJO NEWS24’s findings suggest that home advantage is to blame for the massive turnout at some of the campaign rallies.
Over 30,000 people are thought to have attended Ahmed Ododo’s rally at Okene, and both the SDP and PDP’s turnouts were record-breaking.
The attendees at the party’s rallies in Okene, according to Evangelist Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner of Information and Communications, were there voluntarily.
“They love the party; we didn’t pay anybody anything,” he asserted.
Regarding the SDP demonstration in Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area, the spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Ijele, stated that a large number of supporters attended purely out of love and admiration for their son, Murtala Ajaka.
It is referred to be “the mother of all rallies” by him.
In Ankpa, the hometown of his deputy governorship candidate, a woman, Dino Melaye of the PDP also demonstrated his strength.
The demonstration was just as large.
Ahmed Muhammad, a political expert, told the Daily Post that the Kogi West senatorial district will be both the joker and the beautiful bride.
He claims that from among the seven local government units, the residents of the Okun-speaking territory of Lokoja-Koto would determine the next governor of the state.
The enormous crowds seen at the various party rallies, according to another observer, Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroot Advancement, INGRA, will not translate into voting on election day.
In an interview with DAILY POST, Aliyu claimed that even in the absence of a solid strategy for the people, politicians financially entice people to campaign rallies.
“Generally speaking, campaigns in elections serve as a platform for candidates, parties, and supporters to come together and exchange ideas, promote manifestos, and market their positions,” stated Aliyu.
Large crowds at campaign sites, however, almost never result in votes on election day because of our weak political orientation, lack of political party ideology, and enormous ability of candidates to financially entice voters (who are nearly always willing accomplices). This is a rather unfortunate turn of events for our political system.
“This behaviour is so widespread that it occasionally occurs to find single people in various campaign locations for various politicians. It also explains why there are instances of violence in certain locations.
“As a civil society, we require a well-established political ideology where political parties and their adherents are recognised for holding fundamental views on matters of public concern like the health, the economy, and so forth.
The only way for the public to get the most from the diversity of political parties is in this manner.
“We have called for issue-based campaigns in the past and we will continue to do so; in these campaigns, candidates and parties are chosen based on their positions on current issues, not on their gender, race, or religion.”
Fears of violence during the Kogi East election
Ahead of the November 11 governorship election, the Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) has allayed concerns over the rising violence in Kogi-East.
In a statement released on Monday, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, the chairperson of KONGONET, expressed disapproval of what he called “dirty politics” occurring in Kogi East.
“We are pleased to witness the enormous gathering adorning political party campaigns throughout the State.
“It is encouraging that a significant portion of Kogites will be prepared to vote their franchise on November 11, 2023.
But we are extremely worried about the ongoing violence leading up to the elections, particularly in the state’s Eastern Senatorial District, and the seeming lack of initiative on the part of security services, particularly the Nigerian police, to stop it.
“On November 11, 2023, we demand a robust mobilisation and assurances from the security agencies for a peaceful election for governor.”
He emphasised that “the unpleasant past experiences with regard to Kogi State gubernatorial elections should not be repeated.”
People are endorsing candidates based more on their ethnicity than their qualifications – Activist
Comrade Idris Abdul Miliki, a Kogi State activist, has expressed disapproval of the manner in which voters will cast ballots in the upcoming election.
According to Comrade Miliki, Executive Director of Conscience for Human Right and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), the focus of the electorate’s support for politicians on ethnicity rather than philosophy and competency is concerning and disheartening, as she told the Daily Post.
To prevent violence, Miliki said that all hands need to be on deck.
Miliki went on to clarify, saying, “Not everyone who comes to your rally will like you or vote for you.
Some of them are there because they have been mobilised by resources. Seeing individuals at rallies is not illegal. In the meantime, given our history in Kogi State and how we see elections, everyone should be concerned about violence.
The fact that people are not endorsing or campaigning for politicians or parties based on their qualifications or ideologies is what makes this one so concerning.
“They are endorsing politicians according to their ethnicity. It has gotten worse under Kogi State’s ruling party. There is a dilemma when the government that is leaving office and its designated successor come from the same zone.
“The party that has ruled for more than seven years is performing at a very low and concerning level when considering the resources at its disposal.
“This is another instance of a party where the party chairman and the incumbent governor both hail from the same local government.
“That the governor cannot be chosen by the local government alone.”
Then, it will be a “do or die” situation. Why would three important people from the same area live in the same place?
“Electors in the Eastern and Western regions of the State are endorsing candidates according to their ethnic backgrounds. This is detrimental to our democracy.
