‘He’s compromised’ — APC asks INEC to redeploy Kogi REC

The Kogi All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign council has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeploy Gabriel Longpet, the state’s resident electoral commissioner (REC).

The APC is accusing the REC of compromising materials for the state’s governorship election conducted on November 11, 2023.

INEC declared Usman Ododo, candidate of the APC, as the winner of the election but Murtala Ajaka, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has challenged his victory at the tribunal.

Ajaka, who has not been able to inspect the election materials to fortify his petition at the tribunal, alleged that there were irregularities in Kogi central during the off-cycle poll.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kingsley Fanwo, spokesperson of the council, said INEC should halt the inspection of the materials because of a motion it filed at the tribunal.

“It will be recalled that the Social Democratic Party and its Candidate obtained an Ex-parte Order of the Tribunal on the 25th day of November 2023, directing INEC to among other things, allow an inspection of electoral materials used for the Governorship Election for the purpose of assisting the SDP and its Candidate institute and maintain a Petition which at the time had not been filed,” Fanwo said.

“INEC was given only 48 hours to comply with the said orders which includes all forms, registers, result sheets, ballot papers and BVAS machines.

“Upon being served with the Order on the 27th day of November 2023, INEC filed a Motion before the Tribunal on the 29th day of November 2023 praying the Court to set aside the said Orders contending that the Tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to make the said Orders and for other reasons such as apparent contradictions in the said Ex-parte Order.

“That Motion to set aside dated and filed on 29/11/2023 is to our knowledge still before the Tribunal as it has not been heard.

“[INEC should] commence disciplinary processes against the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Kogi State, Mr. Longpet, having been heavily compromised by the SDP and its Candidate.

“Suspend or redeploy the REC from Kogi State pending the outcome of the disciplinary process against him.”