Kogi State Electoral Commission Chairman Praises APC for ‘Outstanding Performance’ in Local Government Poll

In a show of partisanship, Mamman Nda-Eri, the Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), has commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its sweeping victory in the recently concluded local government elections. This statement has raised eyebrows, given the expected neutrality of election officials.

The local government elections, which took place across Kogi State’s 21 local government areas and 239 wards on Saturday, saw the APC clinch all chairmanship and councillorship positions. Announcing the results in Lokoja, Nda-Eri praised the ruling party, describing its performance as “excellent.”

“The APC performed excellently; it cleared all the chairmanship and councillorship positions, leaving nothing to the other 18 political parties that took part in the election,” Nda-Eri remarked, citing official reports from the collation centers. He also praised the efforts of election and security personnel for ensuring a peaceful process.

Controversy Surrounds Election Results

Despite the KOSIEC chairman’s positive remarks, the election has been met with criticism from various opposition groups. The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) labeled the election a “mockery of democracy,” claiming that no actual voting took place in many areas. According to the CNPP, the APC had predetermined the winners, using the election as a mere formality.

This controversy adds to growing concerns about the integrity of state electoral commissions, which are frequently accused of favoring ruling parties. In recent months, local government elections in several states have followed a similar pattern, with the ruling party securing nearly all available seats.

Many stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations, are now calling for a constitutional amendment that would transfer the responsibility of conducting local government elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure greater transparency and fairness.