The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has said it is set to deploy the Quick Count election observation methodology for the December 5 governorship poll in Bayelsa State.

While unveiling the Quick Count Project on Thursday in Yenagoa, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, chairman, TMG, said the methodology employs statistical principles as well as sophisticated information technology platforms.

TMG launched the Quick Count Project in Yenagoa before representatives of INEC, civil society groups, media, and TMG volunteers, amongst other stakeholders.

Zikirullahi noted that Quick Count was a parallel vote tabulation method that provides timely and accurate information on the conduct of voting and counting, one that is capable of independently verifying the accuracy of election results.

“TMG is undertaking the Quick Count for the Bayelsa governorship poll to provide voters, candidates, political parties, security agents, INEC and general public with independent information about whether the official results reflect ballots cast at the polling units.

“If INEC’s official results fall within TMG’s estimated range then the public, political parties and candidates should have confidence that official results reflect ballots cast at polling units,” Zikirullahi said.

He said TMG volunteers who would work as observers on the project were drawn from every corner of the state. “TMG observers include men and women, the young, and the elderly, Christians and Muslims.” He said.

Zikirullahi urged INEC to consider extending the period for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in view of additional challenges posed by the difficult terrain of the coastal communities in Bayelsa State and also urged the electoral body to intensify efforts to overcome the identified logistic lapses towards ensuring no voter was disenfranchised due to challenges in the CVR process.

Also Speaking at the event, Baritor Kpagih, Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, noted that election was a multi-stakeholder process but regretted that electoral body was blamed for lapses that were outside its control.

He called on the political parties, security agencies as well as electorates to collaborate with INEC to ensure that the forthcoming elections were violence free and credible.