By Aherhoke Okioma
Yenagoa
Mr Afred Kemepado , Director-General, Restoration Youth Network (REYNET), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on the card reader performance for the re-run election of Southern-Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa.
It would be recalled that INEC cancelled elections in the area and declared the Dec. 5 state gubernatorial poll inconclusive.
The election in the affected area was earlier shifted to Dec 6 following violence by rival group that made the exercise uneasy to conduct.
Kemepado said yesterday at a news conference in Yenagoa that REYNET was a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in support of good governance.
The Director, who decried the violence and other electoral malpractices that marred the inconclusive governorship poll in the state said that improving card reader would go a long way to wedge such irregularities from reoccurring.
According to Kemepado, effective functioning of the card reader could retard rigging and other related electoral frauds.
“Now that INEC is yet to fix another date for the election in the area, we want them to put the card reader in order; the card reader machines should work this time and work properly.
“The youth should not allow themselves to be used for thuggery; the election is for Bayelsa and we must put hand together in ensuring the smooth conduct of the election in Southern-Ijaw.
“For the eligible voters, ensure that you cast your votes and make sure that your vote is protected; we beleive that the rerun of the election in southern-Ijaw will be free, fair and credible this time.
“We are saying no to violence, the politicians should not see violence as an avenue to win election, the act of violence is not good for anybody,” he said.
