Kogi Electoral Offenders Will Face Justice
The alleged corruption associated with the just concluded elections in Kogi State remains topical. In this encounter with Atabor Julius, the main character in the crisis, Resident Electoral Commissioner Hussain Halilu Pai, gives his own account of what al
Asked to comment on the just concluded general election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State, Hussain Halilu Pai, has this to say. “Really, I can confidently say that the election held in Kogi State right from the 28th March, presidential and National Assembly and the April 11 state assembly and the 25th April supplementary elections in some constituencies has been generally successful and peaceful.
“Since I did mention supplementary election, that is to say election in some constituencies was inconclusive. There were supplementary elections in six state constituencies and one federal constituency. Apart from some hitches in some polling units and wards, the election went on well and was substantially peaceful and we now have to repeat one on the 28th April, 2015 due to the problem of non-availability of result sheets and ballot papers, which as I speak is being investigated.
“We thank God that on the 28th April, when we held that election to conclude Ajaokuta state constituency, all went well – result returned and the winner declared. We are waiting for the certificate of return for the constituency while we have given certificates of return to the 24 state assembly members-elect.”
On the allegation of electoral fraud committed by some of his staff, Pai added, “Truly, that is the one I said is being investigated. On the 25th, supplementary election at Ajaokuta state constituency, we were all there. I saw all that happened. Our members of staff, both permanent and ad hoc, were unable to produce ballot papers and result sheets which resulted into violent attack by the electorate that were aggrieved and that was curtailed.
“The major suspects were reported to the police and on our part, we have set up administrative panel, since the suspect is a senior staff, and also the seven presiding officers are being investigated. They have made useful statements and we are waiting for the panel to submit their findings before we can take further necessary action. I want to assure everybody that we are not going to cover up anybody, and whoever is involved in the scam will have to face appropriate sanctions.”
Addressing the issue of alleged fake ballot papers, which sparked violent protest at Dekina II state constituency on April 11 during the state Assembly election, the election umpire gives vivid accounts of what transpired.
“I think INEC has passed that stage now. The electorate at that constituency and their syndicate know what they were doing. You know in this country, there are some people who may not want election to take place. So they come up with one form of excuse and all kinds of complaints.
“Though I was in Kano at the time, I went to conduct presidential and National Assembly election in Kano State. It was the REC of FCT that held brief for me. I want to say categorically that it was the same ballot materials that were sent to the constituency that was also sent to the 24 state constituencies. I want to categorically state that the ballot materials were not fake, but an imagination and the plan of the electorate there that were not ready for the election on that day. It was unfortunate.”
Enumerating how an election could be declared inconclusive or cancelled, he said “The issue is the number of the registered voters where either the elections were cancelled or did not take place, it is not necessarily the number of the polling units but the number of the registered voters in those polling units in relationship with how much of a difference it can make in the final outcome where elections were cancelled and the number of registered voters even if it is one polling unit that can make a difference and affect the result.
“We will declare it inconclusive. But if it is twenty polling units and the difference between the party leading and the one following is not substantial to affect the outcome, we will cancel it.
There is a rule and condition for INEC to declare result either inconclusive or cancelled. It is the difference that matters.”
On the introduction of the card readers and its functionality, Pai held that, “Generally as Kogi State is concerned, the card readers performed above average but that is not to say that we were totally satisfied with it. As a commission, we are going back to the drawing board, not only in Kogi but nationwide. We are going to reexamine its performance for future elections. We have gone above board, but there is room for improvement as far as the smart card is concerned.”