THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the sorting and counting of votes across polling units in Bayelsa state.

The ICIR reports that off-cycle governorship elections are held in three states- Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

Officers and ad-hoc staff of INEC started sorting and counting of votes at around 1:33 pm in Ward 10, polling unit 05, Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) Labour Party (LP) candidate Udengs Eradiri’s polling unit.

According to the Presiding Officer, only 183 of 622 registered voters were accredited. The ICIR had reported that Bayelsa state has three major contenders vying for the governorship seat.

The incumbent governor, Duoye Diri, vying for re-election under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Timipre Silva, former governor and Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Also, Udengs Eradiri, LP candidate is another force in the Bayelsa governorship election. He has served as Commissioner in the state and was the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide.