The Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello at about 11 am on Friday collected his transferred temporary voter card at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Okene, his country home.
The governor, who was at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was accompanying by some of his security aides and other political appointees, was received by INEC staff and the administrator of Okene Local Government Council, Engr. Abdulrazaq Muhammad.
The collection of PVC which is on going across the country, affords those who are not registered in a particular domain before now to register and those who have transferred theirs to visit their constituency’s to pick their PVC.
Governor Bello had registered in Abuja, prior to the 2015 general elections, and all efforts to transfer the voters card to Kogi state, according to him, had been unsuccessful before 2015 had become an issue.
The governor, was not long ago, in the news for attempting to register within the precinct of the Kogi state Government House, Lokoja, an action that has drawn different commentary for and against.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission after investigation indicted the governor, but said he could not be prosecuted in line with electoral laws because of the immunity he currently enjoyed.
The commission however sacked three of its staff for their role in the alleged registration saga.
March 16, 2018 has been fixed by a Federal High Court Abuja for ruling on whether the governor have not been registered in Kogi state is fit to be governor.
But the Director-General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo has stated that the governor has picked the temporary transferred card at INEC Office, Okene.
He said the Governor had been on the issue of the transfer for long and that he is excited that it has finally been done by INEC.
“Yes, his card has been transferred to his polling unit at Okene. He has been on this for long but thank God INEC has finally done it. The Governor is a law abiding leader who will continue to follow due processes,” Fanwo said.
Also reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to come to equity with clean hands and explain the mystery surrounding the collection of PVC by Gov Yahaya Bello, who was this morning issued with another PVC in Okene.
In a statement issued by Dickson Achadu, Director Research and Documentation, the party said the governor is culpable, having been registered twice, once in Abuja and another one in Kogi State Government House.
The party said INEC must come clear with what is happening and the circumstances surrounding the governors double registrations, most especially that the governor has been dragged to court, having allegedly registered twice as even alleged by INEC.
The party said INEC must reassure the Kogi state citizens of it readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible poll in 2019, as the governor’s action is making it to lose confidence.
“It is unimaginable that having confessed to not being able to transfer his PVC before 2015 and the governor’s second registration held in Kogi Government House, Lokoja, INEC can still participate in the drama that took place at INEC office Okene today.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for INEC in Kogi state , Mallam Mohammed Bagudu Biambo, when contacted, said he cannot comment on the issue as he was out of the state and is only their office in Abuja that can speak on the issue.
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