An election observer group, the Bayelsa People’s Assembly (BPA), is demanding unhindered access for voters participating in the ongoing governorship election in the state.
The group expressed concerns over reports from Basambiri communities in Nembe Local Government, where both political party members and election observers claimed to be denied entry to communities and polling locations.
The BPA also raised alarms about the non-deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines in several polling units across Nembe and Brass Local Governments.
The alleged restrictions on access have sparked worries about voters’ ability to freely exercise their democratic rights in Basambiri.
In a statement, Kenneth Ikurite, representing the Bayelsa Peoples Assembly, voiced deep concerns over what he termed an “unprecedented act of intimidation” aimed at suppressing people’s participation in the electoral process.
The statement called on relevant authorities, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, to intervene and ensure that all eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation, have unimpeded access to polling units.
Ikurite said, “BVAS machines play a crucial role in the verification of voters through biometric data, enhancing the credibility of the electoral process. Reports indicate that voters in affected areas are being subjected to manual verification, raising questions about the efficiency and accuracy of the process.”
He highlighted the absence of BVAS machines and urged INEC to address the situation urgently to uphold the integrity of the governorship election in Bayelsa State. As of now, INEC has not released an official statement on the specific issues raised in Basambiri communities and the reported non-deployment of BVAS machines.
“With the voting process already underway, these emerging issues in Basambiri communities and concerns about BVAS machine deployment highlight the need for swift and thorough intervention by electoral authorities to ensure a credible electoral process,” concluded Ikurite.
