• INEC says office not attacked, deploys 3,508 BVAS machines in state
The Kogi State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced cancellation of the grand finale of its Central Senatorial district rally over security concerns.

In a statement, yesterday, Austyn Ochu, Head, Media Team, Kogi Presidential Campaign Committee (KPCC), said the cancellation followed a decision reached during an extraordinary stakeholders meeting on Monday.

The meeting, held at the country home of the state party chairman, Sam Uhuotu, was presided over by a former federal lawmaker, Abdulkareem Saliu.

Ochu said the meeting reviewed critical security situation of the district, ahead of the general election on Saturday, and opted to consolidate on various rallies held, so far, in all local council areas. The stakeholders also resolved to embark on door-to-door campaign in the remaining days to the poll.

He added: “Recall that the security situation in the district has escalated from sporadic gunshots in the stronghold of the PDP to bombing, by unknown gunmen, of the Okehi Local Council secretariat in Obangede, last night.

“The State Presidential Campaign Committee regrets any inconvenience the cancellation of the rally might have caused members of the party.”

MEANWHILE, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State said it has deployed 3,508 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the Presidential, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections, adding that its office in the state was not attacked.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Longpet, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lokoja, yesterday.

He said security is paramount to conduct of the election and the safety of voters will be guaranteed. According to him, all security formations in the state have given assurance that voters and INEC staff would be safe before, during and after the election.

He said Kogi has 1.9 million registered voters, who are expected to vote during the February 25 election. He noted that of the number, 1.6 million have collected their Permanent Voter Cards.

Longpet acknowledged that some BVAS machines malfunctioned during the Commission’s mock election. He, however, added that the affected units have been replaced from INEC’s store of backups.