Results collation begins in Bayelsa at 10 am – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the collation of results for Saturday’s Governorship election in Bayelsa State will begin at 10 am today, November 12.
The exercise will take place at the INEC office along Swali Road in Yenagoa, according to the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga.
However, it was reported that voting commenced in some wards in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area on Sunday, as materials did not arrive on time on Saturday.
The results uploaded on the electoral umpire’s IREV platform so far indicate that the incumbent Governor, Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is in the early lead, closely followed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva.
Despite this, Preye Aganaba, a popular chieftain of the APC from Diri’s Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, expressed confidence in his party’s victory.
READ ALSO: Imo Election: Uzodinma wins in all LGs, set to be declared winner
Aganaba commended INEC for the conduct of the election but lamented that all APC supporters were chased away from Sampou, Diri’s community before voting commenced on Saturday.
He praised security agencies for ensuring peace in his Odi community during the exercise and maintained that his party would ultimately triumph.
Aganaba, who serves as the Coordinator of Local Government Areas in the APC camping council, reported incidents of violence against APC members in certain councils.
He mentioned that an APC agent was shot in Famgbe and that all skirmishes and irregularities were reported to security agencies.
Aganaba, who won his unit 3 ward 3 with 112 votes against the PDP’s 107 votes, confirmed that materials arrived on time in Odi and that the BVAS system performed optimally.
Chief Collins Corcodia, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Diri, acknowledged pockets of violence during the election but stated that it was largely peaceful.
He commended INEC for its performance and said that there were no issues with the BVAS system.
Corcodia mentioned that despite incidents in some parts of Ogbia and Sagbama, the polling process remained peaceful.
He said: “There are no issues with the B-VAS and the security personnel did well. I commend INEC.
“There has been peace in many areas so far and I must say that Bayelsa people have shown their love and belief for the PDP. There is no doubt that the PDP will not just win this election, we will win by a landslide.”