Explainer: 12 Important Facts About the Kogi Gubernatorial election schedule for November 11
The election slated for November 11 2023 is expected to be keenly contested, since the incumbent gov, Alh Yahaya Bello would not be contesting as he is serving out he is constitutionally allowed for 2 term of 8 years in office.
It make the state more popular as it attract individuals, groups, local and international bodies.
The election is not only sensitive but something of great concern in view of insecurity in the state.
It has admonished Inec and the police to rebuild their image during the of _circle election by curtailing actions that question their integrity.
The likelihood of the election violence may be reduced if relevant election stakeholders consistently upholds their legal obligation.
It calls for proper monitoring by different organisation both local and international and security agents.
The gubernatorial election will take place on 11 November 2023 to elect a new Governor of the State to succeed the incumbent APC Governor .
The primaries was held between 27 March and 17 April 2022.
Its factual that Kogi State has a population of about 3.5 million people and is made up of 21 local government area with more than 2,500 polling units in the state that are mainly Christian and Muslim populations.
The confluence state is a diverse state in the North Central with a large number of mineral resources but facing an underdeveloped agricultural sector,deforestation, and cohessive politics in the North central region.
Politically, the state’s early 2019 elections were described by a swing towards the
APC as the party was mainly successful,unseating almost all PDP senators and house members to sweep most House of Representatives and two senate seats .he state was won by APC presidential nominees.
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Here are the 12 interesting facts about the election:
Kogi State has a population of about 3.5 million people and is made up of 21 local government areas.
This will be the 6th gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
There are currently 18 political parties in Nigeria that are eligible to contest in the election.
The election will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The campaign period for the election officially began on August 18th, 2023.
Kogi State is one of the states in Nigeria that has both Christian and Muslim populations.
The election will be conducted using electronic voting machines.
The voting age in Nigeria is 18 years and above.
There will be more than 2,500 polling units in the state.
In the previous election, voter turnout was about 43%.
Security will be a major concern, given the history of election-related violence in the state.
Voter apathy may be a challenge, given the low turnout in previous elections.
There will likely be a lot of propaganda and misinformation during the campaign period.
– There may be logistical challenges in getting voters to polling units, especially in rural areas.
– There will likely be a lot of last-minute alliances and coalitions between political parties and candidates.
The election may be affected by electoral malpractices, such as vote-buying, ballot-snatching, and underage voting.
Voter education and sensitization will be key to ensuring that voters are informed about the electoral process and their rights.
Observers from international organizations, civil society groups, and the media will be monitoring the election to ensure its credibility.
Ahead of the APC primary,major questions were asked about which candidate
would receive the endorsement of Bello to be his successor.
However, after the May 2022 primary for federal positions resulted in several losses for Bello loyalists, new questions emerged over Bello’s Interest of the state party.
In February 2022, the national APC announced its gubernatorial primaries’ schedule setting its expression of interest form price at ₦10 million and nomination form price at ₦40 million with a 50% nomination form discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms.
Ward congresses were set for 8 April in Bayelsa and Imo states to elect delegates for the primary while the Kogi congresses had been held on 8 February.
Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 10 April, in concurrence with the other APC gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 12 April.
Purchased forms
Smart Adeyemi: Senator for Kogi West (2007–2015; 2019–present)Abdulkareem Mohammad Jamiu: Chief of Staff to Governor Bello (2019–present)Abiodun Faleke :a House of Representatives member for Ikeja (Lagos State) (2011–present) and 2015 APC deputy gubernatorial nomineeJibril Momoh state Accountant GeneralAhmed Usman Ododo : state Auditor-General for Local Government,Sanusi Ohiare : former Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency ,Yakubu Oseni :Senator for Kogi Central (2019–present) Salami Ozigi-Deedat :Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs ,Murtala Ajaka wasnt allowed to contest based on a court order that was said to be falsely produced on the morning of the election.
He then decamped to SDP, where he is now the flagbearer and has a huge followership;
Mukadam Ashiru Idris: Commissioner of Finance ,]Babatunde Irukera: 2015 and 2019 APC gubernatorial candidate and CEO ofthe FCCPCKhalifa Abdulrahman Okene: 2019 APC Kogi Central senatorialcandidate Edward David Onoja : Deputy Governor (2019
Ahmed Usman Ododo won the election and emerged flagbearer of the party for the election.
People’s Democratic Party
On 1 December 2022, the national PDP announced its gubernatorial primaries’
schedule.
Both primary forms—the expression of interest and nomination forms—were sold from 16 to 31 January 2023, aside from Kogi State where
the deadline was later extended to 13 February.
Similarly, all form submission
deadlines were pushed back from 13 February to 1 March. Ward congresses were set for 28-29 March and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 8 April to elect delegates for the primary.
Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 14-15 May, in concurrence with all other PDP gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be mad,
Murtala Ajaka : 2023 SDP gubernatorial Flagbearer His Running mate is Hon Abenemi.
There are currently 18 political parties in Nigeria that are fielding candidates for this year crucial election .
The 2023 election will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the only legal body empower by the nation constitution to do so.
Its also an interesting fact that the election will be conducted using electronic voting machines.
In the previous election, voter turnout was about 43%.:
Security have always been a major concern in every Kogi elections,its may raises it ugly head in this year gubernatorial election as well given the history of election-related violence in the state.
As usual ,there are likely to be a lot of propaganda and misinformation during the campaign period from political parties as it was in the previous five electioms held in the state.
Voters should also prepare tbeir minds for logistical challenges problem as witnessed in previous polling units in the state especially in rural areas.
There will likely be a lot of last-minute alliances and coalitions between political parties and candidates.
As usual,previous elections were characterised by electoral malpractices, such as vote-buying, ballot-snatching, and underage voting and the 2023 gubernatorial election may not e different
Voter education and sensitization are always key to ensuring that voters are informed about the electoral process and their rights but it all depend on impact of the oil subsidy have on the electorates
Media,Observers from international organizations, civil society groups, and the media will be monitoring the election to ensure its credibility
This report is compiled by Confluence media news room whose members are from The print,The Broadcast and Ministry of Information
