Tobias Sylvester
A boat carrying electoral materials and ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to riverine areas of Ilaje Local Government Area in the ongoing Ondo State governorship election, has capsized.
The wooden boat reportedly carrying no fewer than 15 persons capsized owing to overloading, with personnel and some election materials, apart from strong wave and current.
Local divers nearby were said to have made efforts to rescue the victims. But some of the ad-hoc staff were seen in videos of the incident swimming to safety, while others swim to join other boats on the mission.
Confirming the incident , Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said that a statement will be issued on this in Akure in due course.
He however said that the commission got report that there was no casualty as all the victims were rescued.
“I am told all our ad-Hoc staff were safely evacuated,” Oyekanmi said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tee Leo Ikoro, who also confirmed the incident, said the mishap was minor
Ikoro said there were no casualty and the electoral materials, were not affected. He said all the INEC officials were safe as they all have their life jackets on them. He said the occupants of the boat had continued with their duties.
Meanwhile, Pastor Adewale Giwa has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari and VP Yemi Osinbajo, for endorsing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for todays’s governorship election in Ondo.
