INEC recovers 22 stolen card readers in Bayelsa, 47 still missing

The Bayelsa state Residence Electoral Commissioner, Monday Tom Udoh, has disclosed that the commission has recovered 22 smart card readers out of the 69 stolen by political thugs during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He made the revelation at a press briefing on Thursday at the commission’s headquarters in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.

Udoh warned that the electoral body will impose strict penalties in areas where stolen card readers are yet to be recovered.

According to him, out of the 24 missing card readers in Nembe Local Government Area, only 14 have been recovered as at the time of the briefing, while out of eight electronic devices carted away in Sagbama, three have been recovered.

Similarly, he added that two card readers out of the 24 stolen in Southern Ijaw Local Government have also been recovered while in Yenagoa, three out of the six missing equipment have been recovered.

Udoh, while commending the civil liberty societies, religious leaders, community chiefs, youth and women groups and other stakeholders for reaching out to electoral thugs before some of the cards were returned, added that INEC will continue to perform the role of an unbiased umpire in elections in the state.

The resident commissioner however, urged the people of the state to forget the ugly incidents that occurred in past elections, but should eschew violence for the conduct of credible election in the state.

“Election is not war, but a process for leaders to emerge. So, if those you are to lead are all dead what is the gain? Where there’s peace, you find progress and development.

“So, by the time you kill those you are to lead what is the gain and who will you lead? Let us all allow peace to rain in the state, before, during and after the elections,” he advised.

The resident electoral commissioner assured that 85 per cent of the sensitive materials needed for this weekend’s polls are already in the vaults of the Central Bank, adding that the materials were cross – checked in the presence of party agents to show transparency.

Speaking earlier, the INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, Mr. Nduh Lebari Sampson, said it is time for citizens of Bayelsa state to chart a new course by ensuring they own the electioneering process, adding that for the process to be successful, it must be a collective effort and requires the collaboration of every stakeholder.

He enjoined the people to come together to change the narrative of violent elections in the state, by contributing to conduct peaceful and transparent polls in the state.

State Chairman of the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Chief Alabo Nengi James in his remarks, commended INEC for their consistency in educating Bayelsans on the best practice during elections, adding that there was need for the people to conduct themselves peacefully during the forthcoming elections.

APC state assembly candidate loses legal battle in Edo

By Titus Akhigbe,Benin

A Federal High Court in Benin has voided the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oredo East state Constituency in the Edo state House of Assembly, Osaro Obazee.

The court presided over by Justice Adefunmilola Demi – Ajayi after listening to the arguments of counsel to the plaintiff and defendant ruled that Obaze was not the rightful nominated candidate of the party for the election.

Obaze was dragged to the court by Ekhosuehi Eghosa, who prayed the court to set aside his nomination as the candidate for Oredo East constituency on the ground that it was defective as he neither purchased the APC nomination or expression of interest form for the House of Assembly election.

The plaintiff averred that Obazee was imposed on the party as he did not participate in the primaries and therefore, asked the court to declare his nomination null and void.

However, the state chapter of the APC in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Chris Azebamwen while reacting to the court’s decision, insisted that Obazee remains the candidate of the party for Oredo East state Constituency in this weekend’s election.

He said that “for the avoidance of doubt, we hereby reaffirm Osaro Obaze as the candidate of the APC in Oredo East Constituency and hereby reassure our teeming supporters to keep faith and remain steadfast.

“The leadership of our great party will do everything necessary and explore all legal options to ensure that the mandate which we collectively gave Obazee to fly our flag in the elections of March 9 remains inviolate.”

Meanwhile, Obazee while addressing journalists in Benin after the judgement, appealed to his supporters to remain calm, insisting that he remains the candidate of the party for the state House of Assembly elections.