The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)in charge of Bayelsa state, Pastor Monday Tom, has bagged an award from Nengi James Foundation, a non governmental organization, (NGO) for overseeing the conduct of credible and peaceful polls in the state.
Presenting the award to the REC, at the state INEC Office in Yenagoa, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Alabo Nengi James-Eriworio, said the award was in recognition of the REC’s laudable role in upholding the tenets of democracy in the 2019 general elections in the State, describing the elections as the most free, fair and credible in the political history of the state.
James-Eriworio said: “We present this award to you as a symbol of honour for your contributions to a peaceful, free, and fair electoral process in Bayelsa state during the just concluded general elections. You have demonstrated that you are in indeed an advocate of democracy.”
In his remark, the Bayelsa state REC, Pastor Monday Tom, while thanking the group for the award, commended the stakeholders in the state for their support during the general elections, maintaining INEC remains committed to deepening democracy in the country and urged politicians to play the games by the rules and not see elections as a do or die affair.