Women Arise for Change, an electoral observer group in the Bayelsa governorship election holding today (Saturday, November 16, 2019) has applauded the preparedness of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for the polls.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), who spoke at a media brief on Friday after training of election observers in Yenagoa, noted that INEC had put in place a smooth logistics for the election.

She noted that the 30 observers deployed by the group for the Bayelsa governorship election across the eight local government areas were trained and acquainted with the rules of observers as approved by INEC.

According to her, reports from observers deployed to monitor pre-election activities indicate that all the sensitive materials have been moved to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) as at Friday.

She said that the efforts and INEC and security agencies were commendable and deserved the support of other stakeholders to achieve a peaceful election.

Okei-Odumakin urged the political actors to play by the rules of the game and shun politics of violence to ensure that the people of Bayelsa do not ballot with their blood.

She noted that so far the organisation was anticipating a credible poll and urged observers to be neutral and not interfere with the electoral process.

The fiery activist said that the society expects the security agencies deployed for election duties to be civil and polite to the electorate to build their confidence that their votes would could.

Okei-Odumakin urged the electorate to come out en masse and exercise their franchise and conduct themselves peacefully.

She urged the media to be responsible in the discharge of their duties and promote the conduct of peaceful electoral process by highlighting the successes in the process.

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