With less than 25 days to the Kogi and Bayelsa Governorship elections, preparations by election stakeholders are in full swing. Following the conclusion of the collection of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) by registered voters in Kogi and Bayelsa States, the past weeks saw the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) carrying out series of activities in the two States. On Monday, 14th October 2019, INEC presented the Register of Voters to political parties in Kogi and Bayelsa States at Lokoja and Yenagoa, respectively. The Commission also held a workshop for journalists on Legal and Procedural issues in the two States, as well as a meetings with media executives and online publishers to speak on accreditation of journalists for election observation and the need for accurate reportage during the elections. INEC held a meeting of Stakeholders in each of the two States, to interface with political parties, candidates, security agencies and other election stakeholders. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and some staff from the Commission’s headquarters also met with INEC staff in Kogi and Bayelsa States respectively, in an interactive session, where several issues were discussed ahead of elections in the two States.
At the INEC Stakeholders’ meeting held in Lokoja on 10th October 2019, the State Governor, Yahaya Bello assured the stakeholders of his commitment to democracy and protecting the integrity of the electoral process. He urged his supporters to remain law-abiding before, during and after the election. Speaking at the official campaign flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson cautioned security agencies against intimidating citizens of the State, during the November 16 election.