By KEMI KASUMU
Mid-last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), again, announced that the results of the upcoming governorship election in Kogi State will be transmitted electronically and directly from polling units to its central server.
It said doing so is to prevent rigging, electoral fraud, and irregularities that have marred previous elections.
The electoral umpire was speaking barely five months after the presidential and governorship elections of February 25 and March 18 that ended without clear success in electronically transmitting the results as promised.
Kogi State’s upcoming governorship election holds on November 11, 2023, and the INEC said the results, when electronically transmitted, will enhance transparency and credibility in the electoral process by preventing rigging and irregularities.
Speaking at a media roundtable organized by the Independent Press Center (IPC) in Abuja, Professor Gabriel Longpet, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, highlighted the significance of this electronic transmission. He emphasised that it will help eliminate issues that typically arise between polling units and collation centers, ensuring that the results remain intact and untouched.
“The electronic transmission of the results through electronic methods will definitely prevent such issues of infractions from occurring,” Longpet said. He further reassured the public that security concerns, which plagued the 2019 governorship election, have been thoroughly addressed to ensure a peaceful voting process this time.
Longpet emphasized that the upcoming Kogi governorship poll will be determined by the voters’ choices rather than any form of intimidation. He urged citizens to exercise their right to vote and expressed the commission’s commitment to counting every vote to reflect the true will of the people.
Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of the Independent Press Center, explained that the media’s role in the lead-up to the election is crucial. He emphasized the need for journalists to provide balanced and objective coverage, setting the agenda for informed public decision-making.
Arogundade encouraged media professionals to hold INEC accountable for ensuring a credible election and to actively inform the public about the registration and voting processes.
This media training, organised by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN 11), aims to equip about 25 journalists from various media platforms in Kogi State with the skills necessary to report on the election in a fair and accurate manner.
The training seeks to contribute to a peaceful and credible electoral process, with an emphasis on transparency and responsible reporting.
