A Supervising Polling Officer ( SPO) assigned to Registration Area- 06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA, of Bayelsa state has been abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma Jetty.
This is according to a statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bayelsa State Office.
The statement signed by Mr Wilfred Ifogah, head of
Voter Education and Publicity also said a boat mishap claimed results sheet of total number 5368 going to ward 17 (Koluama) in Southern area of the state.
“We wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to Registration Area-17 (Koluama) in Southern Ijaw LGA capsized.
Fortunately, no life was lost as all the election personnel numbering 12 and the boat operator was 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.”
On the abducted SPO, Mr Ifogah said security agencies have been notified.
In another development , sporadic gunfire was reportedly heard around 3 am on Saturday in Brass LGA raising fears among residents of the town.
It would be recalled that Twon Brass Jetty witnessed a fight between
supporters of the People’s Democractic Party ( PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) Friday when officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were offloading the election materials.
The arguement was on where the election materials should be kept ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
It was alleged that the Brass Local Government Area PDP Chairman, identified as Bara Daniel was injured in the head by supporters of the APC, led by the former council chairman, Victor Isaiah.
However , Isaiah who spoke on the issue, denied any involvement in the assault.
He said that he saved the day because of the alleged unruly behaviour of Mr Daniel who was intimidating APC supporters over how to secure the election materials.
“I was there actually to monitor the process of the materials offloading but the PDP chairman kept making derogatory statements which unsettled some people but I was able to calm the situation,” Isaiah said.
