The Independent National Electoral Commission has reported the abduction of one of its officials in the Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The abduction was revealed by the state’s head of INEC voters’ registration, Wilfred Ifogah, in a statement on Friday, saying that the electoral official was kidnapped while waiting to board a boat at the jetty.
Ifogah also revealed that a boat carrying election personnel and materials to southern Ijaw LGA had capsized and result sheets were lost during the incident, though no lives were lost as the twelve election personnel and boat operator were rescued.
Ifogah, however, said that the total number of registered voters in the affected registration areas and the number of Permanent Voters’ Cards collected stood at more than five thousand as INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the affected area.
“We wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in southern Ijaw LGA capsized,” the statement read.
“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 areas is 5,368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5,311.
“INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election 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 at Amassoma jetty.
“The security agencies have been notified,” the statement concluded.
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