Kogi LG election: Opposition parties threaten to boycott 2026 elections over 2024 infractions as KOSIEC reels out Timetable.
Hold Elections on 17th October, 2026.
Some members of the opposition political Parties in Kogi state have threatened to avoid the forthcoming 2026 LG elections if the election management body fails to give concrete assurance that it is capable of correcting the pitfalls of the 2024 elections.
The members of the opposition parties made the threats on Friday in Lokoja at a forum organized by KOSIEC to announce the timetable for the 2026 LG elections.
The parties disclosed that unless concrete steps are taken to reassure the parties that the last election that fell short of all election standards are corrected , the party would bade goodbye to the forthcoming polls.
In a remarks, the former chairmanship candidate of Young Peoples Party, YPP in Olamaboro LG, Sunday Abah lampooned the KOSIEC for the inglorious 2024 LG elections and described it as charade and shenanigans and should not be called and election.
He said, on the day of election, the electorate in his local Government areas had filed out for the election but unfortunately voting materials refused to arrived for the people to exercise their franchise , but unfortunately results were doctored and declared in favour of the ruling APC.
Abah who went emotional, told the security personnel and Siec officials in the meeting to swear with their conscience if they witness voting in the polling units they monitored.
He said, his party has lost faith and integrity of the KOSIEC to conduct free, fair and credible election.
He added that the election management body will have hectic time to create awareness and restore the confidence of the people that they can be trusted.
In the same vein, the State Secretary of YPP, Komolafe David lamented that even the name tags for party agents were not available for his party , adding that ballot papers and result sheets could not arrived at polling units until the closing voting time.
However, the Chairman of KOSIEC, Mamman Nda Eri said, the body executed her mandate successfully as both non essential and essential materials were distributed accordingly.
He averred that the announcement of winners is not the responsibility of the KOSIEC but that of the returning officers, stressing that the parties have rights to challenge the results in court.
He said, the 2026 election would be held across the state on the 17th October, 2026, while commencement of political activities will start on October, 2025.
” Conduction of party primaries , resolution of disputes hold between 10th November to 12th December, 2025. Collection of forms 15th December to 19th December, 2025. Submission of list of candidates 5th to 9th January 2026, while screening of personal particulars holds on 10th January -21 January 2026. Others include, withdrawal and replacement of candidates hold 22-20 the January 2026. Publication of final lists 6th February 2026. Commencement of campaign Wednesday 20th may, submission of names of party agents 3rd October, 2026, while publication of notice of election 3rd October, end of campaign 15th October 2026.
Eri enjoined the political parties to adhere strictly to the schedule timetable and urge the electorate to file out and exercise their franchise as the government has put in place measures to ensure hitch free elections.
