Bayelsa Guber Polls: INEC urged to uphold electoral law, collate Nembe, Southern Ijaw votes in respective LGAs

*Felix Morka, Esq., National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, says the party disagrees with the Independent National Electoral Commission on collation of votes in the Saturday’s governorship election in Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital as the electoral umpire postpones collation of election results

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Following the conduct of the off-cycle governorship election Saturday, November 11, 2023, in the South-South state, the All Progressives Congress saud it “strongly condemns what has emerged as a stark and disturbing pattern of moving collation of votes in the Party’s Local Government strongholds to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.”

Felix Morka, Esq., National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress,  Sunday, November 12, stated: “We now have confirmed reports that collation of votes in Nembe and Southern IJAW Local Government Areas have been moved to Yenagoa.

“In direct contrast, votes in Peoples Democratic Party’s strongholds are being diligently collated on location in the Local Government Areas.”

Morka also noted: “What exactly is the reason for this selective evacuation of votes from APC strongholds for collation in Yenagoa?

“This is unacceptable and highly suspect. While we hesitate to accuse INEC of colluding with the PDP to subvert the legitimate votes of the people in APC strongholds in favour of the PDP, we  strongly object to this disturbing development that will cast a long shadow over the credibility of the Bayelsa guber polls.”

According to the party, INEC is under duty to act in accordance with the law that stipulates that “votes shall be collated in the respective local government areas before state collation at the state capital.”

The statement added: “We urge INEC to reverse itself on this unlawful move and collate all results in the respective Local Government Areas as stipulated by law.”

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Independent National Electoral Commission has postponed the collation of last Saturday’s governorship election results in Bayelsa State.