Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri cast his vote at 8.40 a.m. at his Ward 6, Unit 4 Centre in his hometown, Sampou, in Opokuma/Kolokuma Local Council.

Speaking afterwards, Diri expressed satisfaction with the smooth process of accreditation and voting, especially the effectiveness of BIVAS, adding that if the same situation was applicable in other polling units, it means that INEC has improved over past elections.

But he equally expressed concern over the alleged attempt to disenfranchise some voters, PDP members and party agents in Basambiri-Nembe, who was disallowed from entering their communities on Friday evening ahead of yesterday’s polling.

This was in addition to the reported abduction of an INEC official, carting away of election materials in Sagbama Ward 6 by some hoodlums, on which he commended INEC for its prompt action, as well as the boat mishap that led to the loss of sensitive voting materials in Southern Ijaw.

He reiterated his call for a free, fair and violence-free process, especially in the Nembe area, “where only BIVAS will be used for accreditation and voting.”