President of the Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin today Saturday 16th November 2019 led a team of the organization to observe the Bayelsa State governorship election.
Women Arise is one of the Election Observation groups accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to observe the governorship election.
The organization which was among the registered groups accredited to observe the Bayelsa 2019 governorship election, the Women Arise team led by its President, Dr. Joe Okei-odumakin held media consultative meeting yesterday in Yenagoa, on the observations of the organisation so far.
Having deployed a team of local observers across the eight local government areas of the state, Dr Odumakin hinted that so far so good, INEC has been effective in its preparation towards Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State. She said there are no security or logistics challenges and there is no threat of emergency or natural disaster. She said INEC is FULLY ready and have almost deployment of election materials across the 8 LGA of the state.
The team observed the election process in several polling stations in Yenagoa, Ogbia, Sagbama, Ekeremor, Brass, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Nembe Local Government Areas.
While team observed a relatively professional conduct on the part of the security agents deployed for the election, the conduct of the voters in most places visited was also impressive.
We witnessed few incidents that threatened free, fair, and credible election. For instance , we witnessed the procession of some women in protest to violence which occurred within ward 5, Otolopo, Yenagua that warranted chanting of ‘no election’ as they carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘We say no to Kangaroo election’!
Sights and Scenery from the Bayelsa governorship election, 2019.
President, Women Arise, DrJoe Okei Odumakin; President, SING, Dr Itari Turner & CRP, WA, Comrade Gbenga Antonio Ganzallo.
Credit:Adeyemi Okediran
