By ABUBAKAR YUSUF

Kogi Youths have protested against the continuous retention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet.

The youths said they were not confident that Longpet may not deliver credible election as he allegedly dines and wines with Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

During a protest on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, by a large number of the youths across the state capital, Lokoja, they carried placards bearing different inscriptions, some of which read: “Longpet is a disgrace to INEC”, “Give us another REC”, “We want Longpet replaced forthwith”, “INEC, Kogi is not for sale”, “Remove and Replace Longpet now”, “We demand for free and fair election in Kogi”, and “Longpet Must Go”, among others.

The protesters later converged on INEC headquarters in Lokoja, saying that reports reaching the people of the state show a likely compromise of the state REC.

They accused the REC of incompetence and corruption, alleging that he sleeps in Government House, Lokoja and doubted his ability to deliver a credible guber poll in the state come November 2023.

According to the youths, the same scenario played out in 2019 when INEC officials were said to have compromised the governorship election.

Feelers revealed that INEC and security agencies were being targeted by the government to harass hapless voters in a manner likely to discourage free, fair and credible election in November.