The Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assigned to registration area 06 in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Saturday.
The name of the INEC official was, however, not stated.
He was said to have been kidnapped at Amassoma Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state while waiting to board a boat at a jetty in the area.
This was disclosed by the Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity of INEC in Bayelsa State, Wilfred Ifogah during an interview.
According to him, a boat also carrying election personnel to registration area 17 in Koluama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA capsized and election materials including result sheets got lost.
12 personnel and the boat operator, he disclosed, were rescued.
No life, he revealed, was lost in the boat mishap.
He said: “We wish to confirm that a boat carrying personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in Southern Ijaw LGA capsized, fortunately, no life was lost as all the election personnel numbering 12 and the boat operator were rescued.
“We however lost our result sheets, power banks, and luggage containing personal effects of staff.
“The total number of registered voters in the affected registration area is 5368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of elections in the affected area.
“INEC also reports that its SPO assigned to registration area 06 (Ossioma), in Sagbama LGA was abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma jetty. The security agencies have been notified.”
