Commission to conduct supplementary election in Bayelsa constituencies

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it would conduct supplementary election in the three Bayelsa State constituencies where elections were declared inconclusive in Saturday’s House of Assembly poll.

Its Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, who announced this in Yenagoa, listed the constituencies as Ogbia Constituency 11, Brass 1 and Southern-Ijaw IV.

Of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly, 21 have been declared; with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinching 17 slots, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured four.

Ifogah explained that polls in the three constituencies were declared inconclusive due to contenders’ failure to follow INEC’s regulations and guidelines for the exercise.

He said the commission would inform stakeholders of the new date for the polls.

“Clause 10 (10) stipulates mandatory use of smart card readers. Clause 28 (b) specifies collation at ward level and clause 43 (b), careful review of activities by the Management Team emanating from reports of Collation Officers and Returning Officers duly appointed,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the people of Basambiri, in Nembe Local Government Area, have debunked a statement credited to the state government that election did not hold in the community.

Speaking to newsmen who went to monitor the election on Saturday, Youth President of the community, Iruo Theo, APC Women Leader, Emmanuel Favour and Chief Agent Balele, said the election went on smoothly.

Balele accused those who failed to turn up for the election of having a hand in the killing of an APC member during the Presidential election.

He said contrary to PDP’s claim that the APC chased them away from the community, it was PDP thugs that killed an APC member.

Also speaking, Favour said, “You can see that election is going on in all the units and both PDP and APC members are casting their ballots happily.

“There is peace in Nembe Basambiri, the election is going on well and the security arrangement is well organised here, nobody was chased out. We are all brothers and sisters.”