INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials for Bayelsa Supplementary poll ; deploys 3 National Commissioners

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa on Thursday said it had commenced distribution of sensitive election materials for Saturday’s supplementary poll in the state.
The Commission’s Public Affairs Officer in Bayelsa, Mr Timidi Wariowei, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.
Wariowei said the Commission received the sensitive materials on Wednesday and distribution had commenced in Ekeremor Local Government Area on Thursday.
He added that “all the materials are now in our custody; the materials include ballot papers and result sheets.
“On the distribution process, we intend to dispatch that of Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area early morning of Saturday.
“You know that the real focus is the Southern-Ijaw and we do not want what happened on Dec. 5, 2015 to repeat itself in that area.
“INEC is prepared to conduct free, fair and credible election for the betterment of the people.
“We have over 100 polling units in the state to conduct the election and Southern-Ijaw; so, we are ready to conduct credible and acceptable election.’’
On the use of ad hoc staff, Wariowei said the Commission resolved to use some of them that participated in the Dec. 5 gubernatorial election in the state.
He, however, added that some of the ad hoc staff had been changed, specially for the Southern-Ijaw, stressing that efforts were made to ensure that the election was conducted freely.
He said “INEC is on top of the game. On security, we have been working with security agencies because without them, we cannot conduct the election.
“We have been collaborating with the Police and Army to ensure peaceful election in Bayelsa.’’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it would be deploying three of its National Commissioners to supervise Saturday Bayelsa supplementary governorship election.
Mr Nick Dazang, INEC Deputy Director of Publicity disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Dazang added that the commission would also deploy a technical team to each ward where the election would be conducted.
“The technical team would be deployed to intervene in situations where there are technical challenges as regards the use of card readers,” Dazang said.
He said that no fewer than 834 ad hoc staff, comprising of four staff in each of the 431 polling units, would also be deployed to conduct the election.
Dazang said that election would be conducted in 425 polling units (PUs) and five voting points in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.
Besides, he said that the supplementary election would also hold in 101 PUs in three other local government areas of the state where election were cancelled.
“In addition to these the commission is going to monitor the election via its situation room situated at the INEC headquarters in Abuja,” said the spokesman.
He confirmed that the commission had on Wednesday commenced the distribution of sensitive materials from the state capital to local government areas where election would be conducted.
On security, Dazang said that security agencies during a meeting held in December 2015 had assured the commission of needed security to conduct safe election.
Asked of the allegations trending among political parties that INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bayelsa was offered money by one of the candidates to influence the election in his favour, Dazang said it was an allegation that has not been proved by anyone.
“On Dec. 17, 2015, we had meeting with all the political parties and candidates contesting the election, none of the parties or candidates raise the issue.
“If the allegation was true it could have been raised at the meeting.
“The state REC is still going to conduct the supplementary election because he has not been found wanting on the basis of allegation that could not be proven by anybody,” he said.
Dazang said that the commission was fully ready to conduct credible, free and fair supplementary election on Jan. 9 to conclude the state governorship election.
However, he called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure that peaceful and credible supplementary election was conducted in line with INEC’s planning expectations.