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Tag: Bayelsa State

  • No election in Nembe wards, PDP candidates insist

    Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly election in Bayelsa State at the weekend insisted that no election held in the seven wards of Nembe-Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

    The candidates said they were surprised that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still went ahead to announce results, which they claimed were written without election by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking at the PDP state secretariat, Yenagoa, the candidates, who contested elections in the affected wards said there was no basis for INEC to accept results from Nembe-Bassambiri where elections could not hold.

    Persons, who narrated their ordeals, were the PDP candidates for Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency, Marie Ebikake and Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Izagara Ipigansi.

    Ebikake said other areas where elections held in the senatorial district, the PDP defeated the APC and wondered how 41,000 votes were ‘manufactured’ from Nembe-Bassambiri to upturn the victory of the PDP.

    She said: “You all are aware that the 22nd, specifically in Bassambiri, there was serious shoot out throughout the night and everybody ran helter skelter. Some people moved to Nembe City while some people rushed down to other communities.

    Surprisingly they said election took place on Saturday and we thought it was a joke”.

    She said one military officer with the rank of a major aided the opposition to write the controversial  results describing him as a disgrace to the military.

    Also speaking, Ipigansi, said he could not vote in his unit because electoral materials did not get to Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He said after all their efforts to get the materials proved abortive, they discovered that the materials were diverted to a private hotel under the supervision of security operatives.

    Read Also: Gas explosion sacks Bayelsa communities

    He said: “There were no materials. I can attest to that because I was not giving the opportunity to see the materials and to cast my vote. Bassambiri protested and we called people to record and take video clips of what happened at the various units where people waited in vain to cast their votes.

    So as a candidate I did not participate, only to be told on the 24th of January that results had been prepared to be submitted. I was no giving the opportunity to vote in my Constituency 3, which comprises wards 11, 12 and 13. There was no election.

    “In Brass, I won APC by almost 7,000 votes. In Nembe local government in constituency 1 where election was conducted I won APC by almost 3,000 votes. So you can imagine that in my own constituency and my own community that has ward 11, the highest voting strength in that local government, I didn’t have one vote. This is surprising.

    “So I am surprised that where election did not hold, result were compiled and submitted. We are pleading that INEC should have a rerun of election in Nembe Bassambiri. If  they are popular let them come and contest”, he said.

    Also, the Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite, said the results relied upon by INEC to declare candidates of the APC winners would not stand.

    He said: “Whatever result you see that have been used to declare any candidate should be disregarded because we know we are to meet in court, and definitely the law will have is course and the truth will manifest and the rightful candidate that won the election will be declared or re-run election will be conducted in those 7 wards.

    “Let it be very clear to the world that there was no election Nembe constituency 2 and Nembe constituency 3. Now the big question is how come they allow those results to be declared? How come they did not probe the card readers to confirm that indeed there was no accreditation?”

  • Bayelsa elders condemn electoral malpractices, killings

    The Bayelsa State Elders Council at the weekend condemned the destruction of lives and property in the just-concluded presidential and national assembly elections in some parts of the state.

    In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Yenagoa, the Forum also decried militarization of Bayelsa communities during elections.

    The elders said the role some security operatives played led to the killing of about three people in the state.

    The Communique jointly signed by the Council’s Chairman, Chief Francis Doukpola, its Publicity Secretary, Chief Thompson Okorotie and Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, called for abrogation of deployment of soldiers in subsequent elections.

    They stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the root causes of the violence and urged political actors to play by the rules to avoid a recurrence of such dastardly acts.

    The Communique reads in part: “In this direction, Council welcomes the inauguration of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry which provides opportunity for those who have genuine cases to go before the Commission to enable it discharge its mandate in the interest of Bayelsa State and its people.

    “Council commended the communities where elections held peacefully and requested violence prone communities to emulate them.

    Read Also: Gas explosion sacks Bayelsa communities

    “Council also called on political players across the parties to stop violence, killing and maiming of innocent Bayelsans and non-Bayelsans during elections.

    “Council commiserated with one of its members, Chief A.A Taribi, whose son was allegedly killed by soldiers, and other families who lost their loved ones to the electoral violence”.

    The elders claimed that security agencies especially soldiers drafted to maintain law and order connived with a political party to disenfranchise the electorate saying the development signaled danger to democracy and peaceful coexistence of the people.

    Earlier in his introductory remarks, Doukpola said although the organization was apolitical, it would not fold its hands and watch political actors destroy the prevailing peace and stability in the state.

    Doukpola said the emergency meeting was convened to review the state of the nation with respect to the last Saturday’s elections, particularly as it affected Bayelsa.

    Prominent traditional rulers, elders and statesmen who attended the meeting were the Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Chief Francis Doukpola,  the Ibenanaowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere Akah, and  his Ekpetiama counterpart, King Bubaraye Dakolo

    Others are Prof Ayibaemi Spiff, the Ibenanaowei of Bomo Clan, King Joshua Igbugburu, the Ebenibe of Epie Kingdom, King Malla Sasime, Paramount Ruler of Bassan Kingdom, King Jonathan Kubor and Chief Douyi Naingba.

    Also in attendance were Prof Francis Sikoki, Rev Mrs Jane Alek, Chief A.M Aduba, Chief Ikoko Abraham, Lady Love Amaseimogha, a former Commissioner for Youth Development, Chief Kemi Prefa among others.

     

  • Police arrest ‘mastermind’ in Bayelsa DCP’s abduction

    The police yesterday said they have arrested an alleged ringleader of last week’s abduction of a Deputy Commissioner (DCP) Kola Okunola in Brass, Bayelsa State.

    This was contained in a statement issued on yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    Mba identified the alleged ring leader of the crowd whose assault on the senior officers went viral as Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, adding that two others,  Tamarapreye Victor, 34, and Azi Newton, 34 years were also arrested.

    DCP Okunola was on Sunday morning abducted by a crowd of armed hoodlums for attempting to protect officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from their attacks.

    The youths beat up the officer, tore his uniform, stripped his rank and were at the point of beheading him when they received information that their wish was being done by the electoral officials and they abandoned him, The Nation learnt.

    It was gathered that prior to his abduction and assault, armed youths said to be members of one of the major political parties had snatched ballot boxes and papers, which they went and thumb printed before returning same to force INEC officials to declare as results of the election.

    They were said to have absconded with voting materials for seven wards Bassambiri community in Nembe council area, hence, no elections were held in the affected areas.

    According to sources, the hoodlums manipulated the elections at a popular hotel in the riverine area, brought same to the collation centre for INEC to announce but met supporters of other parties protesting the manipulation.

    “The armed thugs that earlier hijacked INEC materials arrived at the jetty accompanied by a great number of armed youths and insisted that INEC officials must authenticate the manipulated results before leaving the community.

    “The police officer who was on duty in that area was alerted to the scene after hearing a loud noise coming from the INEC office with party agents insisting that no election held at Bassambiri and they do not know where the results came from.

    “With the number of youths, the INEC officials felt unsafe and requested that they and election materials be escorted to Yenagoa. The situation was communicated to the Police Commissioner of the State and he ordered that the officials and materials be moved to the state capital.

    “It was while on their way to the jetty that one of the candidates led youths and attacked the officer dragging and assaulting him,” a source said.

    All pleas by the officer was said to have fallen on deaf ears as the hoodlums vowed to kill him unless INEC officials returned to the centre there and commenced collation of the alleged manipulated result.

  • Gas explosion sacks Bayelsa communities

    Some communities in Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State have been sacked following a gas explosion that occurred in the council.

    It was gathered the explosion occurred from the Nembe Creek Trunk Line operated by the Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company.

    The incident reportedly caused panic among indigenes of seven communities of Nembe.

    The affected communities are Nembe creek 1,2 and 3, Jalungo, Fatuo and Kalablomi.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 4am near Oil Well 7 on Friday.

    A source said the trunk line had been shut for emergency repairs following the detection of oil leakage.

    An indigene identified as Patrick said most residents fled the communities because of the pollution caused by the explosion.

    The Spokesman of the Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Nengi James–Eriworio, confirmed the development describing it as “massive destruction of the area with air and water heavily polluted.”

    Read also: Fire razes 69 shops in Niger market

     James-Eriworio said: “People have deserted the area and the company has refused to respond despite series of emergency calls.

    “The fire is still raging. The incident is uncalled for and questionable. The people are afraid. Women and children are missing. “

    He called on the oil exploration company to be mindful of welfare of indigenes.

    He added: “This is large scale explosion. We are calling on the Federal Government agencies to investigate and respond to salvage the people. The incident has caused air and water pollution.

    “We are concerned about the poor attitude of the company towards the host communities in Nembe.

     ‘They have abused the rights of the people. We are ready to drag the company before the National Assembly and the Presidency. “

  • APC condemns Dickson’s attempts to discredit poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has condemned efforts of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, to discredit results of elections in some wards in Southern Ijaw and Nembe local government areas of the state.

    The party dismissed as groundless Dickson’s statement against votes garnered in the state by President Muhammadu Buhari and APC candidates.

    The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secrtary, Doifie Buokoribo, also rejected an attempt by Dickson to equate himself with Bayelsa by claiming the state condemned votes polled by APC.

    Buokoribo stressed that Dickson was not Bayelsa, and that the state was neither Dickson nor a political party.

    He advised Dickson to explore the democratic option of seeking redress in the courts if he had any grievances about the poll results, instead of plunging into the realm of reckless and enflaming statements.

    Buokoribo said: “The APC in Bayelsa State considers the government statement as baseless, ill-advised, and reckless. Dickson is not Bayelsa State.  Bayelsa State is not Dickson. Bayelsa State is not a party to the general elections. Bayelsa State Government must not be confused with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: Ondo APC celebrates in grand style

    As a narrow-minded and petty politician, Dickson seems not to realise that he is governor of all, not just PDP. Or are we to assume that APC members in Bayelsa State are from Sudan?

    “The 23 February 2019 elections have taken place, the results collated and winners have emerged. No amount of threat, psychological warfare or fake news can change the results as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “The only option open to any aggrieved party is a democratic court of law. As a lawyer, or even governor who has access to a myriad of lawyers, Governor Dickson should know this basic fact

    “Working in concert with Governor Dickson is the amorphous Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Bayelsa State. Created by the PDP, CUPP is demanding fresh elections in Southern Ijaw and Nembe Local Government Councils won by the APC. Our advice to CUPP: go to court

    “The peace-loving, democracy-minded people of Bayelsa State cannot be made pawns in a crude political game by rogue buccaneers seeking power at all costs”.

     

  • Dickson visits family of PDP leader killed in electoral violence

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday visited the family of the late Seidougha Taridi, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was killed by gunmen in army uniforms during the last elections to condole with the family.

    Dickson’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, in a statement said the governor was accompanied in the visit by top officials of the Bayelsa State Government and the leaders of the Bayelsa State Council in the visit.

    In the entourage of the Governor were the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson; PDP State Chairman, Moses Cleopas; winner of Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency Prof Steve Azaiki and winner of Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Douye Diri.

    Also on the entourage were Commissioner for Agriculture Doodei Week and Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs Chief Douye Douglas-Naingba, among others.

    Dickson said that the state government, the PDP and the state were saddened by the gruesome murder of the PDP Ward Leader in the community by men in Army uniform feared to be soldiers.

    He described Taridi’s death as shocking and painful saying it was a needless case of cold-blooded murder of an innocent man, who was not involved in any incident near a polling unit but was killed in his own house in his toilet by soldiers.

    He said that Taridi’s killing was not just cold-blooded but also a collective assault on the Bayelsa and her people.

    He stressed the late Taridi was in his house when soldiers were invited to gun him down and a Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, who survived the attack.

    He assured the grieving family of the determination of the government to ensure that those who perpetrated the heinous acts were brought to justice.

    The governor said that his administration inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to formally investigate and document the violence that rocked the elections in parts of Bayelsa for posterity.

    He said: “We grieve with all of you and the entire Oweikorogha community, the party and the entire state grieves with you because this gruesome cold blooded murder shouldn’t have happened.

    “There was no need for it. He was not fighting with anybody, he was not armed in any way, was never near even a polling station, he was not by way near electoral materials.

    “He was in his own house, in his parlour and people came, they were invited, soldiers were invited to gun him down in the privacy of his own home.

    “This is not just a gruesome act of terminating the live of a promising young man, it is a collective assault on our state and that is why I have led this delegation to personally come to condole with you, his father, wife, children, brother and sisters and all other members of the Taribi family.

    Read Also: Dickson, APC trade words over election violence

    “And we again state our resolve to bring the perpetrators of this gruesome murder, cold blooded murder to book in any way we can. I want to thank you all for your courage.”

    Also speaking, family Spokesman, Mr, Temple Igunikeke, gave a detailed account of how the Taridi and the Government House Photographer were shot inside the house.

    According to him, two men whose identities he gave as Ogili and Thankgod, led the men in army uniform to Taridi’s residence where the deceased was resting to carry out the cold-blooded murder.

    Igunikeke, who spoke in the presence of the father and widow of the deceased, said Taridi and Dei were resting in the house after voting to await the outcome of the election when the two men led the assailants to the residence to shoot them.

    He called on the government and the relevant agencies to investigate the gruesome killing of Taridi and the shooting of Dei, to ensure that those involved in the murder are brought to justice.

    He said: “I wish to inform you that in which ever form they try to style the way they killed my nephew only one thing counts, the truth.

    “We had finished elections and we were counting and there was no single event anywhere and as the leader that led us, he needed to rest a little and take back the votes to Oporoma and he was in his home with our dear brother, the photographer of government house .

    “No single Oweikorogha man will attest to the fact that there was anything near what they have done, that was expected.

    “Nobody was there, and, of course, he had the right to remain in his house and they came, Ogili and ThankGod manifested in the toga of the salient saying in the bible that the enemy came to kill,steal, and destroy.

    “In your presence as the amiable Governor of this state that has taken us this far, I want to pledge before you that blood that cries for vengeance.

    “Let the blood of Seidougha also cry for vengeance. I want to thank and bless you and the government for the second time that you have come here.”

  • APC gets two Reps, one senator in Bayelsa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won two House of Representatives and one Senate seat in Bayelsa State.

    APC candidate for Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency Isreal Sunny-Goli scored 41,150 votes to defeat Marie Ebikake of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 19,279 votes.

    In Southern Ijaw, Preye Oseke (APC) won with 56,804 votes to defeat PDP’s candidate and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, who scored 34,104 votes.

    APC candidate for the East Senatorial District Degi Wagara scored 43,303 to defeat the PDP candidate who polled 32,363 votes.

    The PDP, however won the remaining Senate and House of Representative seats.

    Agbedi Fredrick (PDP) polled 48,076 to win Ekeremor-Sagbama Federal Constituency. In Yenagoa-Kolokuma, Stephen Azaiki scored 51,639 while Fred Obua scored 12,048 votes to win Ogbia Federal Constituency,

    In Bayelsa East, Ewrudjakpor Lawrence scored 49,912 votes and Douye Diri got 83,978 to win Bayelsa Central.

  • Disquiet in PDP as Jonathan loses senatorial district to Sylva, APC

    There was loud silence in the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the inability of former President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver his community and senatorial district to the party in the just-concluded elections.

    Results of the elections showed poor performance of the PDP in Jonathan’s Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area and his entire East Senatorial District comprising Ogbia, Nembe and Brass local government areas.

    The senatorial district fell to a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, who worked assiduously to deliver the senatorial candidate of the APC, Mr. Degi Eremienyo Wagara and the candidate for Nembe-Brass Federal Constituency, Isreal Sunny-Igoli.

    Results from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that Wagara scored 43,303 to defeat the candidate of the PDP, Ipigansi Izagara, who polled 32,363 votes and the ADC candidate, Senator Nimi Amange with 16,936.

    Also in the Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency, the former President was said to have done nothing to deliver the PDP candidate, Marie Ebikake, who scored 19,279 against 41,150 polled by the APC candidate.

    It was gathered that Jonathan would have lost his entire Ogbia to the APC but for the efforts of Governor Seriake Dickson’s appointees, who went extra miles to rescue the PDP.

    Party sources said it took the efforts of the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, to avert the defeat of the PDP candidate for the Ogbia Federal Constituency, Fred Obua, by the APC.

    Iworiso-Markson was said to have worked with the newly appointed Special Adviser on Grassroot Mobilisation, Captain Ozu; the Senior Special Assistant on Youths, Osaanya B. Osaanya to deliver Obua, who scored 12,048 votes to win the APC candidate, Samuel Ogbuku, who got 7,995 votes.

    The PDP leadership in the state was said to have bemoaned the former President’s attitude saying it justified an allegation  by a group, Ogbia Renaissance, that Jonathan, his wife, Patience and A.J. Turner were working against the candidates of the PDP.

    Read Also: Rivers official, PDP chieftain, others paraded

    A top member of the PDP, who spoke in confidence, said what transpired on the election day was brazen anti-party by Jonathan’s loyalists in the PDP and some disloyal appointees of the governor.

    “The Ogbia Renaissance raised the alarm days before the election accusing the former President and his loyalists in the PDP of working against the candidates of the party in Ogbia and the Eastern Senatorial District.

    “Despite denying the allegations and pouring invectives on the group, the anti-party played out in the election as these individuals openly backed and sponsored the APC and the ADC House of Representatives candidates.

    “There associates, who are PDP appointees in Dickson’s government also worked against the PDP candidate. It took special efforts and commitment of some loyal appointees of the governor such as Daniel Iworiso-Markson to avert the defeat of our House of Representative candidate in Ogbia Local Government Area.

    “We are watching them and we have noted the roles each of them played. The PDP in the state had already established a disciplinary committee and the names of these people have been penciled down.

    “They will be invited after the election to face the committee. It is shameful that under the watch of former President Jonathan, PDP lost a senatorial district to the APC in an area that is supposed to be a stronghold of our party. This is what anti-party can cause”.

  • 30 parties demand fresh elections in Bayelsa

    Thirty political parties under the auspices of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) yesterday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in Southern Ijaw and Nembe local government areas of Bayelsa State.

    CUPP lamented that there was no elections in most wards in the affected local governments alleging that its candidates for the elections could not cast their votes following hijack of materials and violence.

    The party chairmen and candidates, who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, alleged that elections failed to hold in wards 4, 14, 15 and 16 in Southern Ijaw as well as all the seven wards in Nembe Bassambiri.

    The Chairman of CUPP, Tare Edwin, condemned the abduction of INEC officials and materials meant for the seven wards in Bassambiri and death of some persons in the area.

    Describing the incidents as most unfortunate, sad and unacceptable, he claimed that the incidents were masterminded by opposition leaders and INEC in connivance with security operative.

    Insisting that a similar development occurred in Southern Ijaw, h said it was shameful that such actions occurred despite the riot act of President Muhammadu Buhari against ballot box snatchers.

    He said in Agbere, Sagbama Local Government Area, opposition party leaders in the company of security operatives catered away all electoral materials.

    Edwin said: “There was shooting and the ensuing violence resulted in many casualties. There was no election. In Southern Ijaw Ward 2, deaths were recorded including one Seidougha Taribi, who was shot dead.

    “We demand fresh elections to be conducted in all these areas affected and call on INEC not to accept any results from the affected areas”.

    Also speaking the state Chairman of Labour Party, Ebiowei Numofe, said violence including sustained gunfire marred elections in the two local government areas adding that there was no voting in the affected areas.

    “This was due to sustained gunfire throughout the night of February 22 and the morning of the Election day. There was widespread intimidation and hijacking of electoral materials meant for the said wards.

    “Election materials were brazenly and taken to a hotel in Nembe-Bassambiri were thumb-printing of the materials were arranged by men suspected to be agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We demand the rescheduling of the elections in those wards or cancellation of any purported results there as they would be products of gross rigging, amde intimidation and bloodshed”.

     

  • IGP condemns attacks on police officers

    ACTING Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has condemned attacks on policemen across the country.

    A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) was attacked in Brass, Bayelsa State, on Sunday and a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was also attacked at a collation centre in Umuahia, Abia State.

    The police boss, in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Force spokesman, ACP Frank Mba, who described the attack as unprovoked”, ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of persons involved.

    The IGP also said five suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack on a police officer in Umuahia.

    The statement added: “The IGP, who described the incident as unwarranted and unprovoked, warns that under his watch, such brazen acts of impunity will not be condoned.”

    The IG, who said the attacks on the personnel of the Force shows the risk involved in policing, called for support from stakeholders.

    “These attacks have once again highlighted the risks and hazards inherent in policing our clime, and the need for stakeholders and government at all levels to continue to support the officers and men of the Force in the discharge of their responsibilities.”

    He also praised Nigerians, who identified with the Force by denouncing the actions against the police officers performing their legitimate duties.