Kogi East Youths Protest INEC Over Ward Marginalization

Kogi East youths, under the Coalition of Kogi East Youths Association, protested at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja against the exclusion of their region from the proposed creation of additional political wards in Kogi State. They accused INEC of marginalizing Kogi East, which they claim is the most populated senatorial district and a significant contributor to voter turnout.

The protest occurred yesterday, with the group urging INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, who is from Kogi State, to address their concerns. Isaiah Davies Ijele, the association's leader, cited the 2006 national census, stating Kogi East accounted for 1.3 million out of the state's 3.4 million population.

The group presented three demands, including the immediate suspension of any ward creation process excluding Kogi East and a request for INEC to disclose the criteria used for the new wards. Apostle Gideon Isah commended Amupitan for the recent Osun State governorship election but urged him to resist political pressures regarding the ward creation.