INEC rules out electronic transmission of results in Bayelsa election

By Hannah Nathan

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out electronic transmission of election results in the Nov.11 Bayelsa governorship election.

This was stated by Bayelsa INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Obo Effanga on Wednesday, during an interactive section with religious leaders and faith-based organisations.

He said that INEC was ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections and only voters accredited by BVAS would be allowed to vote.

“Immediately you are given the ballot paper you can start voting.

“We are in the fourth week of collection of PVCs and it will end on Oct. 11. Those who have not collected their cards should go to the INEC office in their local government areas,” he said.

He urged the stakeholders to advise their candidates to be peaceful.

“Religious leaders should take the message to their congregation and politicians who are also church members,’’ he said.

Effanga maintained that 16 political parties had fielded candidates for the election.

Meanwhile, Rev. Joseph Belema, one of the religious leaders commended INEC, stating that a free, fair and credible election was a way forward for electing good leaders.

He called on the candidates not to see the election as a do-or-die affair, noting that only one person would be elected.

When contacted to confirm the story, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) explained that “there’s no such thing as electronic transmission of results.

“What we have is scanned results of polling units on the INEC result viewing portal,” he added.

The INEC REC, said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be used in the November 11 Bayelsa governorship election.