The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has recognized retired Air Vice Marshal Isaac Alfa, as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the Kogi East Senatorial re-run election slated for July 23.
The Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) , Mr Samuel Usman, made this disclosure at an interactive session with newsmen on Wednesday in Lokoja.
Usman said that the decision to recognise Alfa was in line with the May 10 judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the court had affirmed that Alfa was the authentic Kogi East Senatorial candidate of the PDP and not Sen. Attai Idoko earlier presented by the party.
According to the REC, INEC will strictly abide by this judgment.
He assured the electorate that the commission was ready to conduct free, fair and credible re-run elections and implored the media to assist by giving the coming election a wide publicity.
Usman urged the media to support the commission in the area of voter education and sensitisation to avoid violence and other forms of undemocratic actions.
The Chairman, Correspondents Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Ibrahim Obansa in his response, said that journalists had always played their role well in the nation’ s democratic process .
He, however, stressed the need for the commission to be transparent and fair to all candidates contesting the election.
Obansa urged political parties, candidates, security agents and other stakeholders to do what is expected of them in order to have a successful outcome. (NAN)