Violence: 400 CSOs Demand Cancellation of Kogi Election

A coalition of over 400 civil rights organisations under the aegis of Transition Monitoring Group yesterday said it would write the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands and other organs of the United Nations to complain about the violence and killings which trailed the recent elections in Kogi State.

The decision may not be unconnected with the killing of a Woman Leader of a political party in Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, Acheju Abuh who was reportedly burnt alive in her home on Monday.

While calling for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the elections held in Kogi State, the TMG stressed the need for an urgent national conversation and “a public hearing of a sort where Nigerians can voice their minds on the way forward on our elections in Nigeria.”

“There is urgent need for election offences commission while asking that all fingered in the attacks be brought to book”, TMG said.

The organisation said its overall preliminary assessment shows that several of the old challenges that featured in previous elections were again extant in the governorship and Senatorial Rerun elections held in Bayelsa and Kogi States.

The chairperson of TMG, Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, in its preliminary statement on the

November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States, said the processes were marred by irregularities including unaccredited voters, snatching and destruction of election materials.

She said, “The situation during the elections in Kogi was worrisome, given the attendant frustration and fear unleashed on various citizens who were faced with electoral intimidation, violence and killings as the case may be in the state.