The APC has called for the removal and disciplinary measures against Kogi INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Longpet, claiming his compromise by the SDP and its candidate…CONTINUE READING

Kingsley Fanwo, the spokesperson and director of media and publicity for the APC campaign council, voiced these concerns in a statement in Lokoja on Wednesday.

The party criticized INEC’s decision to permit the SDP’s legal team to scrutinize the election materials, citing a purported objection previously raised by INEC’s counsels before the governorship election petition tribunal in Abuja.

The APC stated, “We hereby urge the Chairman and Management of INEC to immediately suspend any inspection of electoral materials used in the Nov. 11, 2023, governorship election in Kogi, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice filed by INEC and others to set the order of inspection aside.

“INEC should initiate disciplinary proceedings against the REC, Dr. Longpet, who has been severely compromised by the SDP and its candidate.

“This is because the message from the REC to INEC officials to appear for the inspection on Thursday, Jan. 4, is an admission of graft by him and a final nail on his fraudulent activities in the State.

“He (REC) has clearly misrepresented the integrity and legal interest of INEC. The commission should suspend or redeploy the REC from Kogi pending the outcome of the disciplinary process against him.”

The APC highlighted that these demands arise amidst alleged efforts by the REC to assist the SDP in compromising, tampering with, or destroying electoral materials used in the concluded Nov. 11, 2023, governorship elections in Kogi.

The party alleged that the SDP and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, obtained an Ex-parte Order from the tribunal on Nov. 25, 2023, directing INEC to, among other things, permit an inspection of electoral materials used for the election to aid the SDP and its candidate in instituting and maintaining a petition, which, at the time, had not been filed.