11th November, 2023
By Shedrack Fr
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has reported that one of its officials for this Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa was abducted while he was waiting to board a boat at Sagbama Local Government Area of the State while 12 others escaped death when their boat capsized in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
The abducted official – a SPO assigned to Registration Area-06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama Local Government Area of was abducted while awaiting to board a boat at Ammasoma jetty, INEC said in a s statement issued in Yenagoa by Wilfred Ifogah, its Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Bayelsa on Friday while confirming the two separate incidents. According to the commission, the boat that capsized in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state boat was conveying election materials for Registration Area-17 in Koluama, Southern Ijaw LGA.
It added that while all the 12 election officials including the boat operator were rescued, the Commission lost its result sheets, power banks and luggage containing personal effects of staff.
INEC said it has notified security agencies about the abduction of its SPO in Sagbama Local Government Area “The security agencies have been notified,” Ifogah said. He also said that the capsised boat was conveying election materials for Registration Area-17 in Koluama, Southern Ijaw LGA.
Ifogah added all the 12 election officials including the boat operator were rescued.
“We however lost our result sheets, power banks and luggage containing personal effects of staff. “The total number of registered voters in the affected registration areas is 5368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5311.
“INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the affected area,” the official said. (NAN)