The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has warned that the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit Bayelsa governorship election results manually would plunge the state into an avoidable crisis.
TheHintsNews reports that the electoral body had fixed November 11 for governorship election in Bayesla, Imo and Kogi states.
However, the President of IYC Worldwide, Dr. Theophilus Alaye, stated this in a statement issued on Monday, while reacting to a recent press conference organised by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Bayelsa State, Ofiong Efanga on his plan to adopt manual mode of transmission of the governorship election results.
He recalled that there were no challenges recorded in the State at the last Presidential, National and State House Assembly elections as the former (REC) adopted electronic mode of transmission of results from the polling units — even from the remotest parts of the state.
Alaye was of the opinion that the announcement of use of manual transmission of results by the REC was an indication that the electoral body in the state was preparing the ground to ensure that the votes of the people do not count.
He warned that manual transmission of results will confirm the suspicion of the people and would also plunge the state into an avoidable crisis.
The President, therefore, called on the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to advise Efanga not to contemplate manual transmission of results in the state.
Alaye said Yakubu should advise the Bayelsa State REC to ensure that Bayelsa governorship election is conducted in line with the electoral guidelines and adopt the mode of electronic transmission of results.
He noted: “The President of IYC Worldwide, Dr. Theophilus Alaye has on behalf of Council called on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to advise the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Bayelsa State, Ofiong Efanga not to contemplate manual transmission of the Bayelsa State November Governorship Election results.”
He urged Efanga to note that the failure of INEC to transmit the presidential election results has caused so much uproar in the country, which has made Nigerians doubt the ability of INEC to conduct credible and transparent elections in the country.
“You know Bayelsa State overtime has experienced and recorded a high level of violence except the last presidential and state house of assembly election which was as a result of the application of the BVAS and the electronic transmission of results from the pulling units. Hence it is the prayers of IYC to see violence free elections in Bayelsa State,” Alaye warned.