Guber Poll: ICPC cautions youths in Kogi against vote-buying and violence

Before, during, and after the next governorship election in Kogi State, youths have been cautioned to abstain from vote buying and violence.

At a town hall meeting for Kogi youth on Wednesday, where the Charter of Demand by Kogi youths was also presented to state gubernatorial candidates, Ulu James Okoro, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), issued the warning.

The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner remarked that the ICPC, in accordance with its goal of eradicating corruption in the nation, will be fully involved in reducing electoral corruption in the next elections. He was represented by the agency’s Principal Superintendent of Operations, Sikpi Nathaniel.

“As you may know, during the previous election, members of the Commission and other security agencies were on the ground to monitor vote buying and voter suppression.

“During the process, people were detained, and the National Control Centre received their biometric data for subsequent use.

“We pledge to use all available means to keep a close eye on any instances of corruption during the governorship elections on November 11th. Be a good Kogite, show your patriotism, and keep any election fraud at arm’s length for your own piece of mind.

However, Okoro warned Kogi youths to abstain from violence and put aside their emotions when choosing who will lead them for the next four years.

The head of the ICPC stated, “As of 25th August 2022, Nigeria’s population was expected to be 217,079,601 with the youth making up 70% of the 217 million, or 151 million people.

“Of the 70 percent, 42% are under 15 years old. Using these statistics, one can assert with confidence that Nigeria’s economic success or failure depends entirely on the youth population. If the kids are allowed to remain uneducated and unproductive, they will be a significant burden on society, which is currently occurring in various ways throughout geographical zones.

Only a relatively small part of the 1.8 million young people in Kogi State are actively involved. As a result of the inactivity, inefficiency, and underutilization of human resources that plague the young people within the state, the Youth Development Commission Bill was premeditated to address these issues.

According to the aforementioned data, Kogi State has approximately 1.8 million youth as of 2019, the majority of them are unemployed and underutilised. With this population and the appropriate approach, which I believe you are doing, you can control both your political future and the state’s political future in the upcoming governorship elections.

The Kogi State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who was represented by DCC Ahmadu Salifu, added his voice to the chorus of condemnation for youths destroying communication masts in certain Kogi State communities in an effort to obstruct the successful transmission of election results.

“NSCDC has taken note of this despicable act that occurred during the previous general election in Igalamela and other areas of Kogi. This will be avoided, I can tell the electorate. To ensure a smooth election campaign, our troops will be on the ground to ensure that vital infrastructures are secured.

Gabriel Longpet, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) resident electoral commissioner in Kogi State, said that the electoral body is completely prepared for the next off-cycle election. He was represented by HOD, Voter Education, Haruna Sule.

The INEC REC further revealed that the Commission had received all non-sensitive materials and had since dispersed them throughout the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State, stressing that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) will end on October 9, 2023.=

Okutepa Aminu, the event’s organiser and executive director of the Lugard Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative, Dr. Kole Shettima, director of the MacArthur Foundation’s Africa operation, and Afolabi Kamald, a representative of Leap Africa, all emphasised earlier the need to stop hate speech, fake news, and violence before, during, and after the governorship election.