The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday said it had commenced the distribution of electoral materials in Bayelsa State ahead of Saturday’s supplementary election in Southern Ijaw local government area and 101 polling units across the state.

The distribution of the electoral materials came amidst fears over the polls following an attack on the country home of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson, and another alleged assassination attempt on the brother of the deputy governor.

INEC’s spokesperson in Bayelsa State, Timidi Wariowei, told journalists that the commission is determined to get things right on Saturday.

Following the violence that marred the December 5, 2015 election in the local government, INEC postponed the election to the next day, December 6, still, there were problems in spite of the security agents deployed.

The widespread violence, ballot box snatching, kidnapping and other skirmishes forced the electoral body to cancel the election and declare the larger exercise inconclusive.

“Reports of the election conducted on December 6, 2015 in Southern Ijaw LGA reveals that the election was substantially marred by violence, ballot box snatching, hostage taking of electoral officials including reports from political parties, observers — local and foreign — among others,” the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Baritor Kpaghir had told journalists.

According to Wariowei, part of the measures put in place to forestall trouble in Southern Ijaw is that electoral materials for the local government will be distributed on the day of the election.

“Of course, all the material area now in our custody; the materials are ballot papers, result sheets, among others.

“On the distribution process, we intend to dispatch that of Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area early morning of Saturday,” he explained.

Wariowei added that changes have been made regarding adhoc staff as some staff involved in the botched exercise have been replaced with others from other parts of the state.

But it appears that political actors and rivals have not allowed the postponement to deter them, with threats, kidnappings and, most recently, explosion threatening the peace.

With less than three days to the rescheduled election, Benson’s country home was on Thursday bombed by unknown persons.

Confirming the incidence, which occurred around 4:00am at Korkosei community of Southern Ijaw, Benson said he had received threats in the past, including threats of assassination.

“It is not something unexpected because they have always been promising to attack, to kill or assassinate me or my family members,” he explained.

“During the last election about fourteen persons of my community and family members were kidnapped and taken to Ologbobiri and assaulted,” he alleged.

Also, Beinmopre Jonah, brother of the Bayelsa State deputy governor, was reportedly attacked on Thursday in his home in Ekeki in Yenagoa local government area.

Jonah was said to have been left unconscious by suspected hoodlums who attacked him.

Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, holds a healthy lead over his rival, former governor and All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Timipre Sylva.