The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has blamed poor logistics arrangements on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the delay in the voting process across the state.
Senator Diri who stated this after casting his vote, alongside his wife, at ward 6, unite 4 (kalama-owei wari) in Sampou Community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area at about 10:28am, said that the INEC has been contacted and urgent actions are being taken.
According to field reports, as at 10:12am there was no INEC official and election materials in ward 13, unit 39 in Ogbia LGA, while as at 11:13am there were no INEC staff and election materials at OMPADEC unit in Amarata Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Speaking to newsmen, the governor said, “For now there is delay for about 2 hours and i have been informed that it is as a result of logistics problems and my plea is that they will equally extend the time that has already been wasted.
“For insecurity there is so much that has been done in terms of security and INEC and the government have not heard of any measure of security breach. We are collating the security reports, so to speak, and we will deal with them accordingly and we will ensure everybody is allowed to cast their vote peacefully. We believe that Bayelsa will be peaceful, we have witnessed one election that is transparent and very peaceful.
“The bimodal voting and accreditation system is an innovation that everybody is applauding because it took few seconds for me to cast my vote. So if it goes that way, it is one development that has come to stay, and I believe that they should continue it.
“Am not unaware of the delay in voting and INEC is on top of it. INEC has been contacted and when they decide on those issues we will also let the citizens know so that we will all be on the same page to ensure that such protests do not come up.”
