The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised the alarm over reported attacks and intimidation during political campaigns in Kogi State, warning political parties and candidates against violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Shehu L. Wahab, said political competition must not be used as an excuse for criminality, urging party leaders to rein in their supporters and ensure peaceful, issue-based campaigns.
Wahab gave the warning on Monday during a critical stakeholders’ meeting with political party leaders, candidates and security agencies at the INEC State Headquarters in Lokoja.
He cautioned political actors against mobilising thugs, destroying opponents’ campaign materials and disrupting rival political gatherings, stressing that no political ambition was worth the safety or lives of citizens.
The REC said INEC was working with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to protect candidates, electoral officials, election materials and voters.
He reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality, assuring political parties that INEC remained committed to providing a level playing field for all contestants.
Wahab also disclosed that the commission had commenced preparations for the 2027 general elections, including ongoing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection at its offices across the state’s 21 local government areas.
He urged political parties, candidates and community leaders to mobilise eligible voters to collect their PVCs, while noting that public sensitisation was ongoing through radio jingles across the state.
According to him, INEC is strengthening its operational capacity through staff training, logistics upgrades and renovation of its local government offices to ensure efficient electoral service delivery.
The training covers electoral operations, collation support and verification, voter education, gender sensitivity and inclusivity, among other areas.
The REC further urged political parties to begin mobilising and submitting the details of their agents early to prevent delays in uploading their information and printing official identification tags.
On complaints concerning the omission or incorrect listing of candidates, Wahab said the issues had been referred to INEC’s national headquarters for review, with measures being taken to address verified cases.
He called on political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to demonstrate democratic maturity, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and comply with the Electoral Act and the political parties’ code of conduct.
Wahab said peaceful elections required the collective commitment of political actors, security agencies and citizens, urging stakeholders to work together to preserve peace and public confidence in the electoral process.
