Gov. Election: Jonathan Calls For End To Off-Season Poll As Allegations of Pre-prepared Results Rock Kogi

By Ayodele Oni

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has advised that off-season elections are not the best for Nigeria, and urged the National Assembly to block it.

The former President’s advice comes amidst report of pre-prepared result sheets surfacing at some polling units in Kogi state, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) promising to investigate the allegation.

The ex-Nigerian Leader spoke on Saturday after he cast his vote in the  governorship poll at Ward 13, Polling Unit 39, at Otuoke in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Jonathan stated that off season election “almost happened in 2007 when I contested as a running mate with President Umaru Yar’adua” but it was prevented.

“I get worried by the issue of off-season elections. And I use this opportunity to plead with the National Assembly that we need to block these off-season elections. It is very odd; it is not a global best practice.

“If we continue with this trend of off-season elections based on the interpretation of our laws by the judicial officers, it will come to a time when the presidential election will be off-season.

“Look at the American system, everybody knows when the American election will be conducted.”

Report stated that allegation of already prepared results sheets surfaced at some polling units in Kogi state just as voting was about to commence.

Independent National Electoral Commission has however promised to investigate the reports of filled result sheets in some polling units.

It stated that “Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State. The Commission views this situation seriously.”

A report by a Civil Society Organisation, YIAGA Africa, has raised the alarm over the discovery of election results from a polling unit in Kogi State that was forged before the conclusion of the exercise.

The results were said to have emanated from Polling Unit 004, Eni Ward of Ogori/Mangogo area of the state.

At inecnigeria, Yiaga wrote “we received report of pre-filled results sheet discovered in PU 004, Eni Ward of Ogori/magongo in Kogi state before commencement of voting. Kindly investigate and address this issue promptly to safeguard the integrity of the process.”

In the alleged results, a copy of which was attached to the post, the APC polled 200 votes; AA scored 1; while ADC, PDP and SDP got 2 votes each. At about 9.45am, the organisation posted another pre-recorded result sheet from PU 020, Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of the State.