Disruption: ‘Don’t Push Me To Use My Powers,’ Kogi Returning Officer Warns SDP Secretary
In a twist during the Kogi State governorship election collation, Prof Johnson Urama, the State Returning Officer has issued a stern warning to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Secretary, who accused the electoral process of foul play.
The SDP official, challenging the results for Okene Local Government Area, claimed the authentic outcomes were available on the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
Describing the figures read out as “a doctored result,” the SDP secretary alleged that the results had been made known to the party “since yesterday,” adding that the outcome of the election was available on the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
“I want to understand why the result was changed now. Why should the result be changed now? My party has been manipulated up until this point in time,” he said.
Urama, adamant about order, threatened to use his powers to remove the SDP Secretary for disrupting the otherwise smooth collation exercise.
“Secretary of SDP, you know I have the powers to remove anybody trying to disrupt this,” the Returning Officer said.
“Don’t push me to use those powers. You have an agent here and he has spoken.”
The incident adds to a series of election-related tensions, including the recent assault on a Labour Party agent in Imo State.