Kogi State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Hale Longpet, has expressed delight over the peaceful and successful conduct of the House of Assembly elections in Kogi.
Longpet who made the declaration shortly after going round monitoring the conduct of the Saturday’s elections across the state said that he was so happy to see that the high tension and volatile atmosphere that characterised Feb. 25 polls were nearly absent in the March 18 House of Assembly elections.
“The tense atmosphere and crisis ridden situations have, this time around, given way for a more calm and peaceful conduct of the exercise.
“People were moving orderly during accreditation and casting of votes without any cause for concern, which is what we have been praying for as an umpire.
“Our worry was the bad news we had from some places like Dekina and Olu, where some thugs allegedly attempted to disrupt the process but thanks to the security operatives, normalcy was restored,” he said.
He explained that the security operatives ensured that the people were allowed to exercise their franchise without molestation.
He, however, charged leaders of political parties to always endeavour to educate their members on how to conduct themselves at polling units during elections so as not generate tension during and after elections.
The commissioner commended all INEC and ad hoc staff and security agents for their doggedness and resilience at conducting free, fair, credible and successful elections on Feb. 25 and March 18 .(NAN)
