The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has achieved eighty percent preparations for the upcoming Bayelsa Central and West senatorial bye-election slated for October 31, 2020 in the state.
Briefing press men at the commission’s state secretariat in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, the state’ Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Cyril Omorogbe noted that apart from sensitive materials that were yet to arrive in the state, every other thing needed for the conduct of the polls were ready.
He said that all non-sensitive materials, adhoc staff as well as necessary logistics have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the exercise, adding that card readers would be deployed for the exercise.
Omorogbe further revealed that election results would be transmitted electronically from each polling unit, saying, “we are following what happened in Edo state recently where results were announced and transmitted from the poling units to Abuja before the final collation and official announcement of results.”
He added thata total of thirteen political parties fielded candidates to participate in the election while elections would be held in 1,270 pulling units across the five local government areas that make up the two senatorial districts.
On COVID-19 protocols, the INEC boss said no voters would be allowed to access the polling units without properly masking their faces.
He called on voters and the contesters to cooperate with the electoral empire and security operatives to ensure a smooth, free, fair and acceptable polls, noting that the flood would not deter the commission from conducting the elections.
Also the Bayelsa state Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli has called on the political parties supporters in the state to tread cautiously in order not to plunge the states into hoax.
Okilo, who disclosed this to Blueprint, stated that the command is fully prepared for the senatorial bye-election, saying the state have a free -and -fair poll come October 31st.
He warned that violence would not be tolerated in the senatorial district and urged the political parties to go about their campaigns peacefully.
He, therefore, stated that” we’ll ensure the availability of adequate security and We will try our best to see that there is peace during and the senatorial election”.
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