As Kogi State prepares for Saturday’s local government election, residents are calling on the electoral authorities to guarantee a transparent and credible exercise.
They are also expressing concern over inadequate voter sensitisation, warning that limited awareness could discourage participation and undermine confidence in the process.
With the October 17 local government election approaching, expectations are rising across Kogi State, but so are concerns about the level of public engagement ahead of the polls.
Some residents say more needs to be done to educate voters about the election and encourage them to come out and exercise their democratic rights.
They insist that a credible council election must begin with an informed electorate and a process that allows voters to freely choose their representatives.
Beyond voter awareness, concerns have also been raised about the failure of political parties to adequately present their programmes and campaign promises to the electorate.
Residents are urging the parties to engage more directly with communities, while calling on the electoral commission to ensure that the process is free from manipulation and that every valid vote is counted.
For many, the credibility of the election will be measured not just by the conduct of the exercise, but also by whether its outcome reflects the genuine choices of the people.
The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC, says preparations for the election are on course.
The commission says both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials are ready for distribution, expressing confidence in its readiness to conduct the poll.
As the state counts down to Saturday’s election, the responsibility now rests on the electoral commission to translate its assurances into a credible exercise.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
