Kogi State government says there will be no restriction of movement for travellers passing through the state during the Saturday local government elections.

Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Mamman Nda-Eri, stated this in an interview with journalists in Lokoja on Friday.

Mr Nda-Eri assured travellers of their immunity from the statement earlier issued on Friday by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, on the restriction of vehicular movement between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Mr Fanwo had said the decision to restrict vehicular movement on Saturday was to ensure hitch-free council polls in the state.

“The decision is also to guarantee the security of voters and citizens across the 21 local government areas of the state.

“Already, the state government has directed security agencies to enforce the order in the interest of the people and to ensure that offenders are punished,” the commissioner had said.

However, the KOSIEC chairman said the restriction order was only for state residents and not the travellers passing through Kogi.

“We are aware that Kogi is a gateway state, and we can’t stop people from travelling across the state.

“The election is very crucial, though, but we understand the fears of travellers. They can pass without any problem,” he said.

Mr Nda-Eri also disclosed that the deployment of sensitive electoral materials to LGAs had commenced, adding that they had been released to the electoral officers in all the 21 local government areas of the state.

The chairman, who monitored the release of the sensitive electoral materials at the commission’s headquarters, said they arrived there by around 9:00 p.m. on Thursday.

He said the election would take place in the 239 wards of the 21 council areas simultaneously on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

(NAN)