The Bayelsa State Residential Electoral Commissioner, REC, Pastor Tom Udoh has declared a two day amnesty for alleged card readers thieves in the last Presidential and National Assembly polls in the state with a call on them to return the items in their possession.
It was learned that the commission has recovered 22 card readers out of 63 that was carted away by political thugs during the polls of February 23.
Udoh at a stakeholders meeting with leaders of political parties in Yenogoa has warned that INEC would take stringent measures in the areas where card readers are yet to be recovered.
He analyzes the local government that the card readers are missing and how many have been found. He stated that 14 out of 24 have been recovered in Nembe while 3 out of 8 in Sagbama, 2 out of 24 in the Southern Ijaw L.G.A, 3 out of 6 in Yenagoa has been recovered.
He however commended the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), religious leaders, community chiefs, amongst others stakeholders for reaching out to electoral thugs before some of the card readers were returned.
He said “Election is not war. Where there is peace, you find progress and development. So by the time you kill those you are to lead what is the gain and who will you lead.
Let us all allow peace to reign in the state, before, during and after the elections. About 85 percent of the sensitive materials are already in the Central Bank of Nigeria and we cross-checked it with all party agents to show we are transparent.”
