The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the ongoing general elections in 141 polling units in Bayelsa state.
INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the collation centre in Abuja on Saturday.
Yakubu explained that the suspension was as a result of the disruptions of the voting process in the affected polling units, which necessitated the postponement of both the presidential and national assembly elections in those areas.
He, however, assured that the exercise is now expected to hold on Sunday.
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He further stated that the decision to postpone the elections was taken after the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were serving as presiding officers expressed apprehension about returning to the locations due to the disruptions.
“We have a situation in Bayelsa state, particularly in the capital of Yenogoa, where in four wards—wards 4,6,8,14 involving 141 polling units, the process was disrupted,” Yakubu said.
“We remobilised security and the situation is calm for us to continue the process. But the youth corps members expressed some apprehension about going back.
“So we met with security agencies and we’ve decided that voting in these 141 polling units where the materials are actually intact, will take place tomorrow morning. Remember, we’re not only doing presidential election, but we are also doing sénatorial and federal constituencies.”
Yakubu emphasized the need to recover and conduct the elections so that the processes can be concluded, and all parties can participate in the exercise.
Furthermore, the electoral commission announced the suspension of the election in Esan and Igueben federal constituency in Edo state due to an error in printing the logo of one of the parties on the ballot paper.
“After meeting with the stakeholders, a decision was taken since the materials are intact. So, we have suspended the election for Esan North, Esan South and Igueben. The ballot papers will be reprinted and elections will now hold with the constituency elections in the next two weeks,” Yakubu explained.
