Bayelsa Election: Final Result Awaited As Collation Continues

The collation of results in the Bayelsa governorship election resumed on Monday at the Collation Centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yenagoa, the capital of the state.

The collation holding at the INEC’s designated centre in Yenagoa started at about 10:45am local time.

Results from one more local government area – Ogbia – were announced while two more local governments’ results are still being expected.

On Sunday results from five local government areas – Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama and Yenagoa were announced by INEC’s returning officer from the local government.

Results from Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area are still being expected, Channels Televisions’ correspondent, Seun Okinbaloye, said.

Election in the Southern Ijaw Local Government was rescheduled to Sunday owing to major disturbances and challenges experienced by the electoral body.

The Sunday election, however, started late because of the peculiarity of the riverine area and the challenge of securing electoral officials and materials which eventually arrived late.

Earlier in the evening, there were also reports that ex-militants had disrupted the election in Amassoma ward of Ijaw South Local Government Area.

The militants carrying firearms were said to have chased away the voters and INEC officials conducting the exercise in the area.

An election observer, Abiodun Ajijola, believes that it could be impossible to have a winner without results from Southern Ijaw LGA which has 425 polling units.