A rights group, Centre For Credible Leadership and Citizens, has petitioned the Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, complaining about malpractices in today’s supplementary guber election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and some wards in six other LGAs in the state.

Signed by the President of the group, Dr. Gabriel Nwamba, the petition was entitled “Reports of Electoral Malpractices from Our Officers in Various Locations across the State”. It reads as follows:

“As an unbiased Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), charged with the responsibility of monitoring the ongoing re-run governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and some wards in 6 other LGAs, we wish to bring to your notice and the global community of some anomalies, which clearly negates the principle of democracy.

“Our finding and report is based on the findings of our personnel, who have been deployed all over the State to observe the conduct of the exercise.

“We wish to report that in:

“SOUTHERN IJAW

“1. Electoral materials and INEC personnel never got to Lobia 1, 2 and 3 communities in Bassan area of Southern Ijaw LGA.

“2. INEC ad-hoc staff also reported that, the bag containing the electoral materials was snatched and taken away by thugs allegedly working for one of the leading political parties, in the presence of security forces.

“3. In Oyoma in SILGA constituency 2, the materials have also been taken away to an unknown destination.

“4. In Ekowe community in SILGA constituency 3, there is a stand-off between 2 groups, as to where voting should take place. One group is arguing that, the materials and INEC personnel be moved to a location, different from the already approved and known location.

“5. In Ukubie and Azuzuama, no materials and INEC staff was sighted, meaning the entire people of these communities have been des-enfranchised.

“BRASS

“1. Materials and INEC personnel meant for Cape Formosa area, made up of Egweama, Beletiama and Liama were snatched and taken away by thugs to an unknown destination.

“2. Same was the case for Minibie in Akassa area of Brass.

“3. Reports of snatching of materials for units 2, 4, 13 and 15 in Brass, with no elections taking place and this was confirmed by the Police DPO in the area, who equally disclosed the arrest and hand-cuffing 2 thugs.

“NEMBE

“1. The Materials and personnel for Nembe ward 6 and 9 were hijacked and taken to Okpoama.

“These are fundamental issues that affect the success or failure of every election, guided by democratic principles and practices, in line with globally accepted standards.

“They are equally glaring cases of malpractice and should be given due attention, if the election is to be seen and adjudged as free, fair and credible in the eyes of the international community.

“This is our position, as an unbiased observer for the re-run governorship election in Bayelsa State and let us be reminded here too that, based on the standards set by the immediate past leadership of INEC at the national level, Nigerian democracy has received international reckoning and we must not, for whatever reasons lower the standards.

“It is hoped that, you will use your good offices to dispassionately, as the unbiased umpire that you are, to examine this report and act in line with acceptable democratic norms and practices.”

•Photo shows Bayelsa REC,Prof. Zana Akpagu.

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