INEC official kidnapped in Bayelsa, result sheets lost in capsized boat

An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission was kidnapped in Bayelsa State’s Sagbama Local Government Area.

The electoral official was abducted while waiting to board a boat at the jetty, according to a statement released on Friday by Wilfred Ifogah, the state’s head of INEC voter registration.

The official was abducted while waiting to board a boat at the jetty, according to a statement made on Friday night on its verified X account by Wilfred Ifogah, the state’s head of INEC voter registration.

He further disclosed that result sheets were lost in the event, which saw a boat that was transporting election staff and supplies to the southern Ijaw LGA capsize.

According to the statement, “We wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in southern Ijaw LGA capsized.”

Fortunately, nobody died because the boat operator and all 12 election workers were saved.

However, our result sheets, power banks, and staff members’ personal belongings in the bags were gone.

“There are 5,368 registered voters overall in the impacted registration regions, and 5,311 PVCs have been obtained.

“INEC is working to guarantee that elections are held in the impacted area.

Additionally, the INEC claims that while waiting to board at Amassoma Jetty, the SPO assigned to registration area 06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA was kidnapped.

“The announcement has been forwarded to the security agencies,” it said.