- INEC Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity in Bayelsa State, Wilfred Ifogah, who confirmed the two incidents, said no life was lost.
- The security agencies have been notified
A Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) assigned to Registration Area – 06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State has been kidnapped, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has verified less than 24 hours before the governorship election.
The electoral commission said that the SPO, whose name was withheld, was kidnapped while waiting to board a boat to his area of assignment at Amassoma Jetty. The statement was released late on Friday night in Yenagoa and signed by Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, the INEC head of voter education and publicity department.
Ifogah further disclosed that a boat carrying electoral personnel to Registration Area 17 (Koluama) in Sagbama local government area of the State also capsized, adding that no life was lost as all the personnel numbering 12 and the boat operator were rescued.
He said, “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 5,368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5,311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the affected area.
“The security agencies have been notified.”