Youths from Kogi East have protested at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the region’s alleged exclusion from a proposed ward expansion exercise in Kogi State.
The protesters, under the association led by Isaiah Davies Ijele, told INEC that Kogi East should be included in the exercise, arguing that the senatorial district has a larger population and voter base than other parts of the state.
Ijele appealed to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, who is from Kogi State, to address what the group described as marginalisation of Kogi East.
He cited the 2006 national census, saying Kogi East accounted for about 1.3 million of the state’s 3.4 million people at the time.
The protesters also argued that the region consistently records high voter turnout during general elections and should therefore receive equitable consideration in any ward expansion.
Another member of the group, Gideon Isah, urged Amupitan to resist political pressure or inducement in handling the exercise.
The protesters submitted three demands to INEC: suspension of any ward creation exercise that excludes Kogi East; public disclosure of the criteria, data and constitutional basis for the proposed wards; and a transparent review that considers population, voter distribution and geographical realities.
INEC Director of Security, Indidi Okafor, received the delegation and acknowledged their concerns.
“We thank you so much for coming over here to express your anger in a law-abiding manner. The commission has heard you,” Okafor said, adding that the protesters’ message would be conveyed to the INEC chairman.
The commission also acknowledged receipt of the association’s letter and issued a copy of the acknowledgement to the delegation.
Ajaka denies link to protest
Meanwhile, former Kogi State governorship candidate Murtala Yakubu Ajaka has denied any involvement in the demonstration.
In a statement signed by his Head of Media and Public Communications, Prince Tijani Dauda, Ajaka said he neither authorised, sponsored, directed, commissioned nor coordinated the protest.
The statement followed a publication by a group identified as Igala Vanguard, attributed to Engr. Lawrence Ankpa, which allegedly linked Ajaka to the demonstration over the proposed delineation of wards and polling units.
Ajaka said citizens had the right to organise peaceful protests and argued that Igala youths did not need the permission of any political figure to raise concerns about representation and issues affecting their communities.
He also accused unnamed individuals and groups of using fictitious associations and pseudo-identities to spread unsubstantiated allegations and drag his name into political controversies.
The statement urged anyone with allegations against Ajaka to come forward openly and provide evidence capable of withstanding public scrutiny.
Ajaka, however, said he respected Amupitan and INEC and expressed confidence that the commission would discharge its constitutional responsibilities fairly and in accordance with the law.
Kogi youths protest at INEC over ward creation, Ajaka denies involvement
