The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced its intention to manually transmit the results of the upcoming Bayelsa governorship election scheduled for November 11.
This decision was disclosed by Mr. Obo Effanga, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state during an interactive session with religious leaders and faith-based organizations in Yenagoa.
Effanga emphasized that INEC is fully prepared to conduct a free, fair, and credible election, and outlined that only voters accredited through the BVAS (Biometric Voter Accreditation System) would be eligible to cast their votes.
“Immediately you are given the ballot paper you can start voting.
“We are in the fourth week of collection of PVCs and it will end on Oct. 11. Those who have not collected their cards should go to the INEC office in their local government areas,” he said.
Effanga urged the stakeholders to advise their candidates to be peaceful.
“Religious leaders should take the message to their congregation and politicians who are also Church members,’’ he said.
He said that 16 political parties had fielded candidates for the election.
Rev. Joseph Belema, one of the religious leaders commended INEC, stressing that free, fair and credible election was a way forward for electing good leaders.
He called on the candidates not to see the election as a do or die affair, adding that only one person would be elected.