The Coalition of Independent Election Observers has scored the Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election as free, fair, and credible.
The coalition, which consists of over 500 independent observers, made this known in a report presented to the public at a well-attended press conference on Monday in Abuja.
A former Auditor General for Local Governments in the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo, defeated six other aspirants to clinch the party’s ticket in the keenly contested primary which adopted a direct mode.
The report signed by Hon. Peter Obut, Coordinating Director of Mission, described the November 11 Kogi State APC primary election as “a reference point in the conduct of primaries in the country.”
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While lauding the APC for “a seamless and rancor-free exercise,” the independent observers said the ruling party has “demonstrated incredible unity under Governor Yahaya Bello and has set the bar so high – such that other political parties may never attain.”
The group admitted that there were a few logistics-related issues along the way, but noted that its team of observers deployed across the state “inferred that no party member was disenfranchised.”
The report said contrary to the insinuation that the APC in Kogi “was left fragmented after the withdrawal of some aspirants on the eve of the election”, the party in the state is formidable and united as all stakeholders worked assiduously in the interest of the party and the state in the just concluded primaries.
It stated that there were no recorded cases of intimidation or suppression by the APC-controlled state government, maintaining that all the aspirants were given a level playing field.
The report added that the direct mode of primaries is highly recommended due to the Kogi state example that ensured a free, fair, and transparent process, noting that it was also responsible for the peaceful outcome of the primaries that produced Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo as the winner.
Meanwhile, some of the aspirants have rejected the outcome of the polls.
