Bayelsa poll: Gunmen abduct INEC SPO, result sheets missing as personnel boat capsized

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Supervising Presiding Officer assigned to registration area 06 in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has been reported kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The SPO was reportedly abducted at Amassoma Community in Southern Ijaw LGA while waiting to board a boat at a jetty in the area.

In a related development, a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 in Koluama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA capsized and election materials. including result sheets, got lost.

INEC Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity in Bayelsa State, Wilfred Ifogah, confirmed the two incidents and said no life was lost as 12 personnel and a boat operator were rescued.

He said: “We wish to confirm that a boat carrying 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 were 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 area is 5368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of elections in the affected area.

“INEC also reports that its SPO assigned to registration area 06 (Ossioma), in Sagbama LGA was abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma jetty. The security agencies have been notified,” he said.

The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, CSP Asinim Butswat, had not reacted to the incident as of the time of this report as he neither picked up calls nor responded to messages as of the time of filing this report.