The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in charge of Kogi, Nasarawa and Kwara States, Mohammed Haruna on Friday said may explore the possibility of using the November 16 governorship election to conduct a fresh election for the Kogi West Senatorial district.
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Nasarawa and Kwara States, Alhaji Mohammed Haruna, dropped the hint in Lokoja on Friday.
Fielding questions from newsmen on the Court Appeal judgment nullifying the election of Sen. Dino Melaye, Haruna said that since the governorship election was still 34 days away, there was possibility for the election to hold same day.
Newsflash247 had earlier reported that the Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified the election of PDP’s Melaye and ordered INEC to conduct fresh election within 90 days of its judgment.
The judgment was on the petition filed by Sen. Smart Adeyemi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 26 election.
The INEC national commissioner was in Lokoja for a workshop on fake news organised for media executives, journalists and bloggers by the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) in collaboration with INEC.
Haruna told the participants to be wary of fake news and its implications, saying that unverified news should not be allowed space.
He also enjoined them to support INEC to institute credible electoral process in the country.
On concern in some quarters on the possible manipulation of the card reading machine by unscrupulous politicians, the national commissioner dismissed it as “practically impossible’’.
He also assured that the commission would allow a level playing ground for all candidates in the election, but appealed to them to play the game according to rules.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Adeiza Jimoh, assured that journalists would be professional in the discharge of their duties before, during and after the election.
He commended the IFES and INEC for organising the refresher for his members, saying that the workshop is timely.
Meanwhile, the embattled senator Dino Melaye has described the judgement as that of human’s.
In a statement issued on Friday, Melaye added that he believed in divine or God’s judgment.
His words, “It is absolutely well. No worries, no tension, no pains. I celebrate God for he is always a good God. Let your hearts not be troubled, believe in God believe also His prophets.
“At the end, his name will be glorified. He is not a man that He will lie. I’m a winner every time. There is a final verdict and it is the verdict of God. Peace peace peace.
“Today, I speak over my life and my household that the peace of God that surpasses understanding will garrison across our hearts. I am not shaken nor moved. I trust in God completely. I lean not on my own understanding; I acknowledge Him in all my ways, and I am directed of the Lord and led by the Spirit.
“I see my way through; I walk a path devoid of pitfalls. I look to the Lord my God, and I will not see shame. I am delivered from destruction and dereliction. I am saved to serve and strengthened for life. God is merciful to me, and I have received the grace of the Lord my God. I have favor. Nothing is against me.
“Men are favourably disposed to me in every situation. I am accepted and not rejected. Nothing blocks my path to success; I am not a failure, and greatness is attracted to me. I activate the will of the Father and insist that today is the day of His power.
” I am willing; God is at work, in me, to will and to do all His good pleasure. I win always. My prayers are answered, and my requests are granted. “My eye is single, and my body is full of light”. Sorrows and tears are far from me. I have peace; my struggles cease; my frustrations, fears, and frailties give way; and I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
“My tomorrow is greater and better than my yesterday. I shine like the star that I am. I am blessed with every blessing heavenly, in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I am blessed with the blessing of the sand and stars. I increase on all sides. In Jesus’s name, I believe and say amen”
