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Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has reacted over calls by some civil society groups for the cancellation of the governorship election held in the state on Saturday, November 16.
        Speaking on a live programme on the morning of Tuesday, November 19. Bello, alleged that some of the observers that monitored the election were partisan. He said that the observers were entitled to their opinions, adding the civil society groups should come out and tell the world the yardstick for their assessment and conclusion on the election. Bello, however, advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to look into the background of those that would be accredited to monitor elections in the future. "As for the observers and civil organisations, they are entitled to their opinion. But what is the yardstick for their opinions. Did they visit all the polling units in the state? "My advice to INEC is that when they are selecting some of those to observe, they should look into the background because in a situation where they go to meet people that they are supposed to observe and ask for logistics, what do you expect. "I am not denying that there was no pocket of violence, especially in Dekina, but out of the several thousands of polling units, how many were violence recorded at? How many electorates were interviewed? The observers are entitled to their opinion," he said. The governor said that the conduct of the election was peaceful and credible, saying that a level playing field was provided for all the candidates that contested the election. He said: "The exercise has come and gone and I thank God almighty for it. I thank all the security agencies and Mr President Muhammadu Buhari who made the platform possible for us to have a level playing field. "I appreciate our national party leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our party chairman Adams Oshiomhole, all the APC governors, party faithful and all the people of Kogi who chose me to lead them for a second term. "The conduct of the election was quite credible. A level playing field was provided and it was free and fair. But of course, in every election such pockets of violence happen but you cannot use that to judge the entire conduct of the election. He, however, denied there was pocket of violence in some areas of the state, especially in Dekina, contrary to news on some media. Bello noted that the people should commend the INEC officials rather than condemn them for doing their job professionally. "I think INEC needs to be given credit for what they have done. It is not limited to my party or any other political party. Everybody knows I am a no-nonsense person. I went everywhere and campaigned without violence, I conducted primaries and there was no violence. My opponent, they had violence among the pockets of people. "If I am permitted, I will tell my main opponent that I will discount the votes of Okene, Okehi and Adavi, and I still beat the PDP overwhelmingly," he added.