Kogi Poll: APC Youth Leaders Sign Peace Pact

In readiness for the November 16 governorship election in Kogi state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leaders across the 21 Local Government Area Councils in the state have signed a peace pact.

Naija News understands that the Peace Pact was signed at a “Political Parties Peace Forum’’ meeting on “Vote, Not Fight: Election No Be War” with APC Youth Leaders Forum on Non-Violent Election in Kogi on Saturday in Lokoja.

The youth leaders promised to desist from negative activities that could disrupt the electoral process before, during and after the governorship election.

This online news platform understands that the meeting was organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

The Programme was supported by UKaid, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and 2Baba Foundation.

Mr Ben Aga, the Senior Programme Manager of NDI in his presentation on “Electoral Offences and their Penalties’’ counselled the youth leaders to toll the path of peace or face the wrath of the law.

Aga listed some of the electoral offences and their implications to include forging of PVC cards, willful removal or destruction of ballot papers or boxes at polling units as well as interference with result sheets.

Others, he said, were illegal printing or possession of ballot papers, improper use of voter’s cards, vote-buying, selling, impersonation of voting and unruly behaviours at political party meetings.