Yenagoa – The Ijaw Youths Council has urged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that rescheduled election in Bayelsa’s governorship poll in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area was successful.
President of the council, Mr Udengs Eradiri, made the call in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria {NAN} in Yenagoa on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that polling in Saturday’s gubernatorial election was disrupted by violent clashes among rival groups in Southern Ijaw.
Heavy shooting by the groups, which lasted several hours, forced INEC to suspend the election and rescheduled it for Sunday as people in the area went into hiding.
Besides, the gunfire did not allow electoral officers to come out from the local government secretariat where they were hiding, with the election materials.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Eradiri said that since it was inevitable that the election would take place in the area, INEC and security agencies must ensure that the voters were allowed to exercise their rights.
“ We hope that the outcome of the rescheduled election will be a reflection of the will of the people.
“ INEC must ensure that this election is not compromised. Our opinion is that INEC must sit up and ensure that the people`s votes count and election conducted in a free and fair atmosphere,“ he said.
Eradiri said Saturday`s governorship election held in other parts of the state was peaceful.
He said that observers sent by the council to monitor the poll reported that its conduct was free and fair in the areas visited in spite initial challenges.
He urged security agencies to protect lives and materials during and after the rescheduled poll. {NAN}