Tension In Abuja As Kogi Youths Protest At INEC Headquarters Over Alleged Marginalisation

Members of the Coalition of Kogi East Youths Association have protested at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja over the alleged exclusion of Kogi East from the ongoing process of creating additional political wards in Kogi State.

The protesters accused the electoral commission of marginalising the Kogi East Senatorial District while allegedly considering Kogi Central and Kogi West in the proposed ward expansion exercise. They argued that Kogi East, which they described as the most populous senatorial district in the state and a major contributor to electoral participation, deserves fair consideration in the process.

Speaking during the protest, the leader of the delegation, Isaiah Davies Ijele, said the group had gathered to express its dissatisfaction with what it described as the deliberate marginalisation of Kogi East. He appealed to the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, who is from Kogi State, to ensure that the ward creation exercise was conducted fairly and transparently.

Ijele cited figures from the 2006 National Population Census, which remains Nigeria’s most recent national census, claiming that Kogi East accounted for about 1.3 million of the 3.4 million people recorded in Kogi State at the time. He argued that the demographic strength of the region should be taken into account when determining the distribution of additional electoral wards.

The youth leader also pointed to what he described as Kogi East’s significant electoral strength, arguing that the region’s population and voter participation should be reflected in decisions affecting political representation.

Another member of the coalition, Apostle Gideon Isah, commended the INEC leadership for what he described as the credible conduct of the recent governorship election in Osun State. However, he urged the commission to maintain the same standard of fairness and transparency in the Kogi ward creation exercise.

Isah appealed to the INEC Chairman not to allow political pressure or inducement to influence the process, insisting that Kogi East should not be disadvantaged. He said the region was too large to be ignored and vowed that the youths would continue to demand what they considered fair representation.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the coalition presented three major demands to INEC. The protesters called for the immediate suspension of any ward creation exercise that excludes Kogi East from equitable consideration, the public disclosure of the criteria, demographic data and constitutional or legal provisions guiding the proposed creation of additional wards, and a transparent and inclusive review of the exercise.

The group said such a review should take into account population, voter distribution, geographical realities and other relevant factors to ensure that all parts of Kogi State receive fair consideration. The protesters stressed that their demand was not intended to deny other parts of the state their legitimate rights, but to ensure that the process was conducted transparently and equitably.

Receiving the protesters on behalf of the INEC Chairman, the commission’s Director of Security, Indidi Okafor, acknowledged their concerns and commended them for expressing their grievances peacefully and lawfully.

Okafor assured the delegation that the commission had received their message and would convey their concerns to the INEC Chairman. The protesters subsequently dispersed peacefully after presenting their demands to the commission.