By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Bodi Arerebo, has urged the electorate in Bayelsa West to vote out former Governor Seriake Dickson.

In an interview Thursday, Arerebo said the former governor had nothing to offer the district having impoverished the people in his eight year tenure as governor.

He urged the people to vote for the APC candidate, Peremobowei Ebebi, saying he is the only one to offer quality representation.

Arerebo insisted Dickson would abandon the people the moment he clinches the Senate seat. According to him, Dickson, as governor, fought those who helped him get to the office.

He said: “Former Governor Seriake Dickson in his era as governor brought hunger, sorrow and sadness to the people. Sagbama people should know that Peremobowei Ebebi is more accessible than former governor Dickson.

“Congratulations to Timipere Sylva on the victory at the court of appeal. I am optimistic that APC will be victorious because it has a batter candidate in Ebebi.”

Arerebo also appealed for peace during the election, saying no election is worth the blood of people.

By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

Three thousand policemen have been deployed for tomorrow’s by-election in Imo North.

Commissioner of Police Isaac Akinmoyede, who addressed reporters on Thursday during the distribution of sensitive materials to councils, said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, were working to ensure a hitch-free election.

According to him, the command would deploy about 3,000 men for the election and receive additional 700 officers from the force headquarters in Abuja.

He warned trouble makers to stay away, warning that security agents would deal with whoever tries to undermine the election.

The Coalition Of Okigwe Youths have vowed to resist attempts to rig the election. They warned agents of destabilisation to desist from any inglorious and fraudulent practices.

Chairman Chiedozie Ibekwe said: “The youths will not tolerate connivance with the police or any security agent to rig the election. Any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to rig the election will have the youths of Okigwe zone to contend with.

“We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police and other security agencies to avoid being used by politicians to rig the election.”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Suspected hoodlums Thursday invaded the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, thus preventing hearing of the pre-election suit between candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abel Ebifemowei and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Cleopas Moses, ahead of tomorrow’s National Assembly by-elections.

The invasion, which happened about 2pm, caused a pandemonium.

Presiding judge Justice Jane Inyang was not on seat when the court was invaded.

Many lawyers who were already in court sustained injuries in the stampede that followed.

The Nation learnt that the suit, which was stood down by Justice Inyang to allow parties regularise their processes, was suspended when the hoodlums, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the court.

One of the victims and former PDP Legal Adviser, Richard Perekeme, said: “There were about 20 hoodlums and armed with dangerous weapons. They seized wigs from lawyers, collected their phones and chased everyone out of court.

“We thank God the judge was not on seat. There was poor security around the court premises.”

He, however, could not confirm if they were political thugs.

When our correspondent arrived at the court, there were two police patrol vans stationed outside the premises.

By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja, has declared Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Saturday’s Cross River North senatorial by-election.

The court said Jarigbe did not supply any false information in his nomination form and was therefore duly nominated as PDP candidate.

The court also held that the primary election was conducted with the authentic and legitimate delegates’ list. It equally held that Jarigbe, having scored the highest number of valid votes in the primary election, is validly nominated as the party’s candidate.

It then ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include and publish Jarigbe’s name on the list of candidates for Saturday’s election. The court also ordered INEC to give Jarigbe every other rights and privileges pertaining to his lawful qualification and nomination as the PDP candidate.

The PDP primary election has been enmeshed in legal tussle since it was held on September 5.

By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

A former Minister of Lands and Housing, Nduese Essien, has called for the abolition of state/local government joint account. He said the practice has impeded development at the grassroots.

According to him, those insisting on the joint account have ulterior motives which target the withholding of local government funds. He added that the third tier of government has been stifled.

Essien spoke on a Planet FM 101.1 radio programme in Uyo. He insisted that federal allocations must be sent directly to the councils.

He said: “I call on the House of Assembly to enforce the payment of local government allocation directly to them as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. Whoever is withholding the local government funds has ulterior motives, chief among which is to stifle development at the local level.”

Essien noted that Akwa Ibom State is yet to set up a special commission to manage the 13 per cent oil derivation fund, and urged Governor Udom Emmanuel to do so.

According to him, the oil producing communities in the state are underdeveloped because of non-implementation of the 13 per cent derivation law passed by the House of Assembly.

The former minister decried the lack of succession development plans, noting that the act has led to abandonment of signature projects of previous administrations.

According to him, the unwholesome practice is responsible for the abandonment of key signature projects such as the Tropicana in Uyo, Sheraton hotel in Ikot Ekpene, outright sale of Qua River Hotel in Eket and many other projects in the state.