Peaceful Process, Impressive Turnout as Bayelsans Elect Governor

Peaceful Process, Impressive Turnout as Bayelsans Elect Governor

Bayelsa, known as the glory of all lands, manifested some of the finest attributes of democracy on Saturday when its citizens trooped to the polls to elect who governs the state for the next four years. Contrary to some events to suggest likely violence, forty-eight hours to the election, the electoral process was largely peaceful

Bayelsa, known as the glory of all lands, manifested some of the finest attributes of democracy on Saturday when its citizens trooped to the polls to elect who governs the state for the next four years. Contrary to some events to suggest likely violence, forty-eight hours to the election, the electoral process was largely peaceful with an impressive turnout of voters.

Unlike previous elections too, voting materials were available in several polling units when voting commenced at 8:30 am. Though a few polling units experienced delays in the arrival of materials. Elections were moved to Sunday in some wards in the Southern Ijaw local government area.

At some polling units, commencement of voting was delayed due to the absence of party agents who are expected to witness the materials to be used for the elections. INEC officials were seated and waiting for the agents to witness the empty ballot papers and to ensure that results were not pre-filled.

Vote Buying Thrives in Bayelsa
Money was traded between back and forth by political party agents and the voters in some of the polling units visited in Yenagoa. As much as N5,000.00 was being shared by the two leading parties namely the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The process was for the voter to vote for the party and show the evidence after which he will receive his or her money. In some instances, the voters were given numbers by the party canvassers as they proceeded to collect their ballot papers. Stories were similar from all the local governments outside the state capital.

It is, however, not likely that the medal would go to the highest spender as the two parties shared equal amounts to the voters including some of their party members.

Security Situation
There was presence of security personnel in every polling unit visited. But the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa was heavily guarded. Places hitherto prone to violence pre and during elections were otherwise peaceful despite overnight gun shots heard to create fears in the voters. This is kudos to voter education as a lot more people comported themselves in civilized manner.

In a few places where skirmishes were going to read their ugly presence, the security agencies were able to nip them in the bud and disallowed their escalation. There were isolated cases of attempts to disrupt elections in some riverine

Pre-Election Violence

In a statement on Friday, Wilfred Ifogah, Head of INEC voters’ registration in Bayelsa state, said one electoral official was kidnapped while waiting to board a boat at the jetty in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa state.

He also said that a boat conveying election personnel and materials to Southern Ijaw LGA capsized, adding that result sheets were lost in the process.

“We wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in Southern Ijaw LGA capsized,” he said.

“Fortunately, no life was lost as all the election personnel numbering 12 and the boat operator were rescued. We however lost our result sheets, power banks and luggage containing personal effects of staff.

“The total number of registered voters in the affected registration areas is 5,368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5,311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the affected area.

Abducted INEC Official Released

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the release of the supervisory presiding officer abducted at the Ammasoma jetty, Bayelsa State, on Friday.
In a statement signed by the HOD, Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, INEC stated that the officer was released unhurt by the hoodlums and has resumed her duties at the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa.

Political Parties Trade Blames

Even at the point of voting, the political parties were still trading blames on the issue of violence and disenfranchisement. After casting his vote, the governor of the state Senator Duoye Diri, who is the candidate of the PDP complained about how his party members were prevented from voting in Nembe/Bassambri, in Nembe local government. He said his party has sent a letter of complaint to the INEC chairman.

APC candidate, Timipre Sylva also complained of harassment and intimidation of his party members and supporters in Yenagoa. A lot more of these complaints would be heard as results start trickling in.


Former President Jonathan Wants All Elections Harmonised

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has suggested that the National Assembly should revisit the issue of off-season elections and seek ways of migrating them back to the time election holds across the country voting at unit 29, Otuoke town.

Citing best practices around the world, he said even in the USA, everybody knows when elections would hold. He described the off season elections as odd.

He said elections should not be left to be determined by judicial officers noting that presidential election could have become off season too in 2007 when the Supreme Court had a split division of 4 to 3.

Though he believes the National Assembly could effect the change he, however, didn’t itemize the step-by-step process that could lead to the harmonization.

Winner May Not Emerge Until Late Sunday or Monday

The winner of the governorship contest in Bayelsa state may not be known until late Sunday or Monday. Two factors may account for this. One is the postponement of elections in some riverine local governments especially southern Ijaw to Sunday. Results from such wards may not be known until late on Sunday. Some locations within a ward have travel time of up to three hours. Two is the logistics associated with moving results from the riverine areas to the state capital for collation and announcements.

It is being anticipated that final collation may be on Monday.

Ayo Aluko-Olokun
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