Violence Scare: Police, INEC Reel Out Emergency Numbers For Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa Governorship Polls

Amid security concerns in the off-cycle election scheduled this morning in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo state, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigerian Police Force have reeled out emergency call-in numbers.

Naija News had earlier reported that a Civil Society Organisation, YIAGA raised concerns regarding a possible outbreak of violence at the off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states.

However, the election umpire on Saturday, while reeling out the emergency number on its social media pages, encouraged voters to exercise their franchise and vote for the candidate of their choice.

INEC further urged citizens to report any emergency to the numbers it shared on its social media page.

“As you go out today to exercise your franchise and vote for the candidate of your choice, be civic in your approach and report any form of Emergency or Disruption to the Commission via; 4632, 09050858629, and 09084444333,” a tweet by INEC read.

On its part, the Police shared an image with phone numbers of officers to call in the event of violence or any other form of emergency.

In the early hours of Saturday, the election umpire reported that Unknown gunmen kidnapped INEC’s Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) assigned to registration area 06 in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.