The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern about some reported cases of
violence in the Saturday governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States.
In a statement issued by Mr
Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter
Education Committee in Abuja, INEC said that it was unfortunate there were
violence in spite all efforts to ensure peaceful elections.
The commission, however, called
for calm while assuring voters of INEC’s commitment to conclude the elections
process in both states fairly and credibly.
It said that the commission was
carefully monitoring the processes even as voting had closed in all polling
units in both states.
“Reports from accredited
observers and our officials in the field indicate that most voters who were
willing to vote had the opportunity to do so.
“The commission delivered
materials to its two states offices in good time and made adequate preparations
for the movement of staff and materials to the various voting locations.
“There are reports indicating
that electoral process was in several places affected by thuggery and violence,
which the commission unequivocally condemns.
“We are still receiving,
collating and evaluating these reports as we move into the critical phase of
result collation,” the commission said.
The commission also said that
results would be collated at registration areas, local government areas and
state levels.
It added that its staff were
ready to receive those results while advising stakeholders to keep to their
commitments to ensure peaceful conduct.
The commission commended the
security agencies, saying they had been supportive so far, in the face of many
challenges.
The commission urged the public
to remain calm, assuring voters in the two states of its resolve to ensure that
the ”elections are concluded fairly and credibly.”
It said that it deployed staff
and materials in 4,352 polling units in the two states for the governorship
elections, Kogi West Senatorial rerun election and Brass I State Constituency
supplementary election in Bayelsa.
“In addition, national
commissioners, resident electoral commissioners and other staff were deployed
to monitor and supervise the elections.
“These field officers are
regularly submitting real-time reports to the commission on developments in the
field,” the commission said.
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