Bayelsa Polls: INEC Faces Protest Over Alleged Result Tampering in Nembe-Bassambiri

On Sunday morning, a crowd of angry protesters gathered outside the INEC office in Bayelsa State. They claimed that the results from Nembe-Bassambiri in Nembe LGA were falsified and demanded their cancellation. They said that no voting took place in the area and that the APC thugs and SWAT police prevented the PDP supporters from entering their home town.

The PDP supporters, who came from Nembe and other parts of the state, blocked the busy Swali road that leads to the INEC office. They held placards and chanted slogans against the alleged electoral fraud. They also appealed to the INEC officials to uphold the rule of law and respect the wishes of the people.

The Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dambo Biriyai, SAN, who was among the protesters, told the press that the APC only wrote outrageous results that were not products of any voting. He said that on the eve of the election, about 60 buses left Yenagoa for Nembe Bassambiri with escorts, but they were stopped and attacked by the APC thugs and SWAT police. He said that one of their members, Barr. Dilli, was manhandled and narrowly escaped. He called on the INEC REC in the state, Mr. Obo Effanga, and the South South Commissioner for INEC, May Agbamuche-Mbu, to reject the fake results and do the needful.

The HOD Voter Education and Publicity of INEC, Bayelsa State, Mr. Wifred Ifogah, urged the protesters to calm down and submit their complaints to the INEC leadership in writing. He said that the commission would look into the matter and ensure that justice was done.