Bayelsa Decides: Pandemonium as INEC Official Abducted, Election material lost in Boat Mishap 

Bayelsa Decides: Pandemonium as INEC Official Abducted, Election material lost in Boat Mishap 

In a series of unsettling events in Bayelsa State, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) was reportedly abducted. The official was stationed at registration area 06 in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area. The identity of the abducted official remains undisclosed at present.

The abduction took place at Amassoma Community in Southern Ijaw LGA while the INEC officer was awaiting transportation via boat at a local jetty. Simultaneously, a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 in Koluama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA, encountered a mishap, leading to the loss of crucial election materials, including result sheets.

Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, INEC’s Head of Department for Voters Education and Publicity in Bayelsa State, confirmed these distressing incidents. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as all 12 election personnel and the boat operator were successfully rescued. However, the election materials, power banks, and personal belongings of staff were lost.

With 5,368 registered voters and 5,311 PVCs collected in the affected registration area, INEC is actively working to ensure the continuity of the electoral process despite these setbacks.

Moreover, the security agencies have been alerted following the abduction of the INEC SPO. However, the police spokesman in Bayelsa State, CSP Asinim Butswat, had not responded or issued a statement regarding the incidents at the time of this report.

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