By SAM JONES
YENAGOA (Sundiata Post) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to traditional rulers in Bayelsa State to support the commission in to ensure peaceful polls in the state.
The commission also appealed to the monarchs to campaign on the function of the bimodal voter device in the 2023 general election and preach against vote selling and vote buying amongst others in their domains.
Prof. Rhoda Gumus, the INEC National Commissioner supervising Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Rivers states, made the appeal when she paid an advocacy visit to the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
Prof. Gumus urged Nigerians, particularly the youths, to awaken their electoral consciences and participate in a way that would bring the needed development in the country.
She disclosed that Bayelsa State has the highest number of multiple registrations noting that the incident of multiple registrations portrays the state in bad light and that their names would be struck out of the voters register.
Prof. Gumus advised prospective voters to always get the right information and act accordingly saying the reason for the multiple registration was that those who had already registered who needed reprint of cards or change of polling units registered again.
Responding, Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, lamented that the rising cases of electoral violence in the country was due to failure by relevant agencies to diligently prosecute and convict perpetrators to serve as deterrent.
King Dakolo promised that the traditional rulers in the state will play their role in ensuring hitch-free 2023 polls and called on those yet to collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to do so as a duty to the nation.
She had earlier engaged youths in a one-day sensitization programme tagged, Engagement With Youths Focus Groups in the South-South Geo-Political Zone ahead of the 2023 General Election with the theme: ‘2023, Youths as Vanguard of impactful change.’
