The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) in Bayelsa State on Tuesday begged those in possession of its missing 63
card readers to return them to the commission today ahead of next Saturday's
assembly elections in the state.
The electoral umpire said many of the hand-held
machines which were used during the presidential and National Assembly
elections on February 23 were not returned to the commission after polls
closed.
In a chat with journalists in Yenagoa, Head of
Department, INEC Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, listed the
affected local government areas to
include Brass, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw, Nembe and Yenagoa.
Ifogah explained that from the information
available to the commission, Nembe had 24 missing card readers in ward 1, 4, 12
and 13; in Brass ward 6 unit 19, one of the machines was not accounted for
while 24 also remained unaccounted for in Southern Ijaw wards 1, 2, 3, 12 and
15.
According to him, "Eight are missing in
Sagbama ward 1 unit 5 and ward 6 unit 3 while in Yenagoa, a total of 6 are also
missing in ward 1, 11 and 16 respectively.
"About 63 card readers are missing. The REC has issued a statement that those
involved should return it to a point where it would get to INEC on or before
Wednesday without being victimised."
According to him, the Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC) of the state, Mr. Monday Udoh, had said the missing card
readers could affect the smooth conduct of polls in the state.
Meanwhile, The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide
has described the just concluded elections as a sham in many parts of the Niger
Delta region.
The group said: "The election was
characterised by intimidation and subsequent murder of many Ijaw youths.
“The IYC warns greedy politicians to stop the
constant killings of Ijaw people in Ijaw land during elections for their
selfish ambitions as no Ijaw blood is worth the ambition of any politician."
In a statement signed by the IYC Secretary General,
Mr. Alfred Kemepado, the youth body said the carnage in Abonnema, Rivers State,
and Bassambiri, Oweikurogha in Bayelsa State were unacceptable and totally
unnecessary.
"We use this medium to call on INEC to cancel
the areas that recorded violence, especially where lives were lost.
"If INEC does not cancel the results of these
areas, it will be registered in the hearts of many as a norm and precedent to
follow to gain victory in coming elections," the IYC said.
It cautioned that violence, when tolerated, would drastically
reduce the turnout and participation of the electorate in future elections,
which it said is unhealthy for Nigeria's fragile democracy.
The Ijaw group also registered its displeasure over the
military invasion of 'Ijaw territories' and intimidation as well as murder of
promising Ijaw sons and daughters.
"We call on all Ijaws to put the bond and brotherhood
we all share first before any political party or political ambition at every
point in time," Kemepado said.
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