• INEC expresses readiness for Saturday’s election
• Deploys 10,192 electoral officers

The Igbo Community Association (ICA) in Kogi State has pledged 100 per cent block votes to ensure an overwhelming victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Usman Ododo, in November 11, 2023 election.

This is coming as the group assured the governor, Yahaya Bello, of an unflinching support for his administration as the poll approaches.

The Igbo community gave these assurances, at the weekend, while holding a meeting with the governor and Ododo, during which they pledged total support for the APC candidate.

The Coordinator of Igbo Groups Backing Ododo (IGBO), Moses Okezie-Okafor, who spoke on behalf of the people of South-East extraction, who are residents in Kogi State, expressed gratitude to the Yahaya Bello-led administration’s consistent friendship to the Igbo community.

Okezie-Okafor, a lawyer from Anambra State, said that Ndigbo in Kogi State are equal partakers in the achievements of the administration, especially in education, infrastructure and healthcare.

He noted that the APC candidate’s slogan of ‘Continuity and Consolidation’ was founded on solid realities and urged his people to vote to sustain the same.

On his part, President of the ICA in Lokoja, Sunday Nwachukwu, who doubles as leader of the delegation, said that the Igbo community was a witness to the government’s great efforts in good governance in the state.

Nwachukwu, therefore, assured Ododo of the community’s support.

In his response, Ododo highlighted the long-standing friendship with Ndigbo and promised to sustain the administration’s accomplishments if elected.

He assured the Igbo leaders of continued delivery of democratic benefits to Kogi State and increased involvement of Ndigbo in the government.

Also, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deedat Ozigis, who stood in for the governor, urged the Igbo community to maintain their focus and enterprise and as well vote for Ododo to keep alive the accomplishments of the Yahaya Bello administration.

MEANWHILE, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its preparedness for the Saturday’s election in the state.

Head of Department, Voters Education and Public Enlightenment in Kogi State, Halilu Haruna, who spoke in his office, yesterday, said INEC is 90 per cent ready for the election.

According to him, the commission is also deploying 10,192 electoral officials to man the 2,548 pulling units across the state, for the election.

Haruna said that distribution of non-sensitive materials would continue till tomorrow when sensitive materials would arrive from Abuja.