By Faruk Adejoh-Audu, Spokesman for the Social Democratic Party Governorship Campaign Council in Kogi State
In the wake of the contested Kogi State Governorship Elections on November 11, 2023, the outlaw government led by Governor Yahaya Bello is under scrutiny for its relentless efforts to obstruct the judicial review process.
Kingsley Fanwo, the Commissioner of Information declared a purveyor of falsehood by Bello, urged INEC to override the Kogi State Elections Tribunal’s directive to allow the inspection of election materials.
The recent move by the Kogi Government, spearheaded by Fanwo, is seen as part of a series of desperate acts aimed at discrediting, undermining, or obstructing the tribunal’s proceedings, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Mr. Bello and his security collaborators took extreme measures on November 29, 2023, dressing over 500 thugs in SDP T-shirts to prevent the inspection of election materials.
Furthermore, orchestrated attacks on the Resident Electoral Commissioner on December 1, 2023, and the Secretary of the Election Tribunal on December 6, 2023, highlighted the government’s determination to disrupt the judicial review process.
In an unprecedented move, election materials were transported to Abuja to safeguard them from destruction by the outlaw government, leading to an indefinite adjournment of the Tribunal on November 30.
Despite these challenges, the SDP is committed to prosecuting its petition within the statutory 180-day timeframe.
The recent outburst by Mr. Bello’s spokesperson, Fanwo, calling for a halt to the inspection of materials is perceived as a continuation of their crusade to discredit the process and waste statutory time.
However, the SDP remains resolute in challenging the outlaws and calls for a fair judicial review to determine the fate of the alleged electoral heist.
Despite attempts to assassinate INEC officials and tribunal members and deploying thugs to disrupt the process, the SDP emphasizes that stolen mandates will not be saved by such tactics.
The clock is ticking as the judicial review process unfolds.
