Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) and independent election observers have expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s local government elections in the state, commending the impressive voter turnout, security arrangements and growing public participation in the democratic process.

The KOSIEC Chairman, Mamman Nda-Eri, who spoke during an assessment of the exercise, said the commission was committed to ensuring that every vote cast counted, assuring voters that their choices would be protected and duly reflected in the final outcome of the elections.

Nda-Eri, who described the turnout in polling units visited as impressive, said the commission had followed its electoral timetable and was determined to conclude the process in accordance with the law.

He explained that although voting was scheduled to end at 3 p.m., voters still on the queue at the official closing time would be allowed to cast their ballots.

He dismissed allegations circulating on social media about the electoral process, saying some of the claims were being promoted by political parties that were not participating in the election because they had failed to meet the required conditions.

He however reiterated his commitment to neutrality, insisting that the commission would do its best to protect the integrity of the process.

According to him, the election was the culmination of a process that began about 360 days earlier, with Saturday’s exercise representing the final stage of the commission’s 13-point electoral timetable.

He attributed the encouraging turnout partly to voter education and the engagement of political parties, urging residents to participate actively in choosing their leaders.

Nda-Eri said the election offered another opportunity to strengthen democracy by allowing the people to determine who governed them at the grassroots, adding that eligible voters who stayed away from the polls would have less moral authority to challenge the choices made by those who participated.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Joseph Aremu, said he and other members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria were in Kogi for a peer-review exercise to assess the conduct of the election.

Aremu explained that the delegation was monitoring the extent to which KOSIEC had complied with the Electoral Act, the Kogi State electoral law and the guidelines issued by the commission.

He said the exercise was particularly important for assessing the effectiveness of the electoral procedures adopted by the state commission.

He described the conduct of voters in the polling units visited as peaceful and orderly, while commending the turnout and voter education efforts.

According to him, the observations made so far indicated that the election was proceeding smoothly, with voters exercising their democratic rights and choosing candidates for both chairmanship and councillorship positions.

The Ondo electoral commission chairman also praised the deployment of security personnel, including police officers and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, alongside other security agencies.

He said the absence of reported casualties, shootings, ballot stuffing and vote buying in the areas visited was encouraging, while urging other states to strengthen voter education and promote peaceful elections.

On the responsibilities of candidates after the polls, Aremu said winners should carry their opponents and supporters along in governance rather than treat political victory as an opportunity for exclusion.

He urged unsuccessful candidates to accept the outcome peacefully and prepare for future contests, stressing that democratic leadership must reflect the people’s mandate.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate for Lokoja Local Government Area, Hon. Abdulrahman Hussein, popularly known as “Gentle”, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for what he described as the provision of adequate security and an enabling environment for a free and fair election.

Hussein, who expressed confidence in his chances of victory, attributed the crowd he witnessed at the polling units to the support of residents for his party and the governor.

He said he expected the APC to emerge victorious at the end of the exercise, while thanking voters for coming out to participate in the election.

The candidate also outlined his priorities if elected chairman of Lokoja Local Government, identifying security, support for small-scale businesses and improved educational opportunities as key areas of focus.

He further acknowledged water supply as a major challenge in Lokoja metropolis, expressing hope that ongoing government efforts would address the problem.

Hussein also pledged to support efforts to improve environmental sanitation in the state capital, particularly in areas facing waste-management challenges.

He said a cleaner environment, improved security and opportunities for economic advancement would be important components of his administration if elected.

The observations by KOSIEC, the visiting electoral officials and the APC candidate underscored the importance of peaceful participation, credible vote counting and acceptance of the people’s verdict.

As voting progressed across the state, the electoral commission maintained that its priority was to ensure that eligible voters were allowed to exercise their franchise and that the outcome reflected their choices.