Senator Melaye Sets Deadline for INEC Review of Kogi Election Petitions

Senator Dino Melaye, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recent Kogi State governorship election, has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts a thorough review of the election within the span of seven days. This call was made during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today following the declaration of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner by INEC.

The declared winner, Ododo, secured 446,237 votes, with Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) trailing with 259,052 votes. However, Melaye alleged several irregularities including mutilation, over voting, and voter suppression during the election. He highlighted the alleged writing of local government results before the election, indicating malpractice.

Melaye emphasized the submission of petitions to INEC, accompanied by evidence supporting these claims. He stressed that INEC has a responsibility to address these concerns, calling for the cancellation of the election in five specific local government areas in Kogi Central. These areas, according to Melaye, were allegedly marred by fraudulent activities orchestrated at the highest levels of INEC.

The senator stressed the significance of a just society, labeling silence as a form of complicity in the face of such issues. INEC has been urged to take swift action within the stipulated seven-day period to review the presented petitions, as the controversy surrounding the election outcome continues to escalate.