63 INEC Card Readers Missing In Bayelsa

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Bayelsa State says sixty-three of its smart card readers have been missing after the conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections in the state.

Resident electoral commissioner, Monday Udoh who disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders in Yenagoa said, although contingency arrangements have been put in place, the development may have a negative impact on the 9th March elections in the state.

Resident electoral commissioner, Monday Udom who revealed that materials for the election have already been received, however, came out with the news of sixty -three missing card readers after the February 23rd elections.

While calling on those in possession of the card readers to return them, Udoh also said over sixty of the commission's staff, including youth corps members, have refused to take part in the 9th March electoral exercise due to violence recorded in the previous election.

According to the electoral commissioner, forty-eight of the card readers went missing in Southern Ijaw and Nembe council areas, where the highest level of violence was recorded in the February 23rd election, while the remaining were lost in Sagbama, Brass and Yenagoa councils.