One million, seventeen thousand, six hundred and thirteen registered voters are expected to determine who becomes the next governor of Bayelsa as voting opens Saturday morning.

In the race are 16 political parties and their candidates, including the incumbent, Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Eradiyi Udengmobofa of the Labour Party.

The election will be held in all eight LGAs (Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa).

The poll is expected to begin in all the 2,242 polling units across the eight local government areas from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. or when the last voter in queue finishes voting.

A breakdown of the total registered voters according to INEC shows that 556,085 (54 per cent) are males 490, 767 females (46 per cent), and people living with disabilities 880.

The statistics from INEC also revealed that 42 per cent of the voters are youth between 18 and 34, while those aged 35 to 49 represent 40 per cent.

Elderly voters aged 50 to 67 are up to 159,940, representing 15 per cent of total registered voters, while those aged 70 years and above are 33,275, representing three per cent of the voters.

The number of election officials deployed by INEC includes one returning officer, eight LGA collation officers and LGA supervisors each, 105 registration area collation officers, 225 supervisory presiding officers, 2,244 presiding officers, 6,732 assistant presiding officers, and one consultancy supervisor.

One hundred and eighteen domestic and eight foreign election observers were accredited to monitor the election.

INEC has pledged to conduct a free, fair and credible election in which the people would determine their governor.

The security agency also pledged to provide a secure environment for the peaceful conduct of the election.

(NAN)