• Lament low rate of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers
Stakeholders in Bayelsa State primary health care, including government health agencies, international health organisations and civil society organisations, have pushed for a law to implement six months’ paid maternity leave and two weeks’ paid paternity leave.
They are also pushing for the implementation of breastfeeding initiatives and establishment of crèches in work places as part of the initiatives to encourage and promote six months exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers.
The stakeholders called for stronger synergy between the government and other stakeholders towards ensuring that there was a legal instrument to guarantee at least six months paid maternity leave and two weeks paternity leave for the breastfeeding mothers and their spouses.
The stakeholders said this at a one-day advocacy and sensitisation of legislators and head of service for the passage of the bill in support of six months paid maternity leave and two weeks paid paternity leave.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Health and the state Primary Health Care Board, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
Executive Secretary, Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), Dr. Appah Williams, said the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, particularly in the first six infancy months, could not be overestimated and tasked the legislative arm of government to consider the passage of the bill.
The Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Health and member representing Sagbama Constituency 1, Dr. Godbless Onyike, and the Chairman, House Committee on Women, Children and Social Welfare, and lawmaker representing Yenagoa Constituency 1, Mrs. Ayibanengiyefa Egba, said exclusive breastfeeding was paramount for the mental and physical development of the child.
The lawmakers promised that they were willing to partner in sponsoring a bill extending the already existing number of months for maternity leave to at least six months, as canvassed in the programme.
Onyike said: “But for bureaucracy, a legislation from the assembly to extend maternity and paternity leave should be ready by the second quarter of 2024. We will collaborate with stakeholders and our colleagues in the House to sponsor a bill to extend the number of months allotted for maternity and paternity leave, to enable our breastfeeding mothers practise exclusive breastfeeding.
“As a medical practitioner that I am and my colleague here with me as House Committee chairperson on Women, Children and Social Welfare, we want to reassure ‘Bayelsans’ that we will partner to bring the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the state by breastfeeding mothers to fruition. There is no alternative to it,” Onyike said.
The State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Mr. Wilson Ebimieboseigha, stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and child nutrition as the need for extended maternity and paternity leave.
He, however, lamented that latest surveys from the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) and UNICEF put the ratio of the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the state at a record low six per cent.
He said: “A recent research showed that investing in breastfeeding has the following potential for Nigeria: it’ll prevent 103,742 child deaths annually, 10 million cases of childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia will be prevented annually and it will save Nigeria, Bayelsa State inclusive, the sum of USD 22 million (22 million Dollars), which when converted to Nigerian currency at the current exchange rate amounts to N6.93billion.
“Investing in breastfeeding will also eliminate an estimated USD38 million (N11 billion) worth cost of breast milk substitute, it will generate additional USD 21billion (N 6.6 trillion) income for the economy, representing 4.1per cent gross national income over children productive years.”
The suit seeking the disqualification of Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Thursday, could not proceed at a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The matter, which was on number 16 on the cause list before Justice Emeka Nwite, was however fixed for Feb. 19, 2024, for hearing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that less than nine days to the Nov. 11 Bayelsa governorship election, a fresh suit seeking Diri and Ewhrudjakpo’s disqualification commenced before Justice Nwite.
Justice Nwite had, on Nov. 3, fixed today (Nov. 30) for hearing after the judge granted the ex-parte motion moved by plaintiff’s counsel, Ifeanyi Nwosu, seeking a leave to serve Diri and Ewhrudjakpo at the Government House in Bayelsa, through courier service.
The suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1448/23 and filed by a Bayelsan woman, Blessing Clement Azibanagbal through her lawyer, Nsowu, listed Diri, Ewhrudjakpo, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
The suit sought an order of mandatory injunction, directing INEC to remove the names of Diri and Ewhrudjakpo as PDP’s candidates in the Nov. 11 poll.
It also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC, its agents, privies or whosoever called, from further publishing their names as standard bearers for the party in the forthcoming election in Bayelsa.
It further sought a declaration that Ewhrudjakpo was not qualified to run as deputy governor under the PDP.
Azibanagbal, in the originating summons dated Oct. 26 and filed on Oct. 30, sought a declaration that Ewhrudjakpo was also not qualified to be a running mate with Diri.
Besides, she prayed the court to declare that Ewhrudjakpo had multiple of names without any evidence to proof “that he is the same person.”
She, therefore, urged the court to declare that the PDP had no candidate in the poll.
But the PDP, in a notice of preliminary objection dated Nov. 28 and filed Nov. 30 through its lawyer, A.K. Ajibade, SAN, prayed the court to dismiss or strike out the suit for being statue-barred.
It also urged the court to dismiss the suit for not disclosing reasonable cause of action against the defendants.
Giving five grounds, the PDP argued that Azibanagbal’s case was founded on pre-election matter and the time prescribed by the constitution to initiate such suit had elapsed.
It argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine a suit that was already statute-barred.
“This honourable court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine a suit where and when the plaintiff’s suit failed to disclose cause of action and/or reasonable cause of action,” it said.
Bayelsa is tagged ‘the Glory of All Lands’. During the recent governorship election in the state, residents trooped out in their numbers to elect the man who will preside over the affairs of the state for the next four years. Before the polls, there was apprehension. The state was tensed as people were afraid that there could be violence. But the exercise was the most peaceful in the history of the state. TONY AKOWE reports.
Ahead of the elections, there were fears regarding the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a peaceful election, especially when fillers from the candidates were not encouraging in terms of security. The deputy governorship candidate of one of the political parties was alleged to have made inciting statements at a campaign rally. He was alleged to have asked the party supporters to kill or drown, at sea, anyone who ‘misbehaves’ on the 11th of November 2023. This prompted the House of Representatives to ask the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser to caution all political parties and their candidates participating in the elections in Bayelsa State against any act of violence during the elections. A member of the House from Bayelsa State, Marie Enenimiete Ebikake (PDP, Bayelsa), had informed the House about the security threats in parts of the state. She alleged that the utterances were not mere political campaign statements, but a call to violence and disorderly conduct capable of disrupting law and order in Twon Brass and Bayelsa State as a whole.
She said if precautionary steps are not taken to call political candidates to order, their inciting statements, as in previous instances, will be interpreted as executive orders, by mindless political supporters, to cause pandemonium and mayhem calculated to disrupt the smooth conduct of the elections, endanger lives and property with devastating effects on the socio-political and economic gains already made in the local government area and the state, in terms of peace, stability and economic development.
Before then, the INEC chairman had held a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to discuss issues of security during the elections. At the meeting, the security chief assured of their readiness for a peaceful election, while warning that the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on anyone who disturbs the peace.
The Inspector General of Police said: “This election is an off-season election and we are committed to making it a free and fair election. The security agencies are ready for this election. We have received all the necessary information from INEC which has informed us where to deploy during this election. We have carried out our threat assessment and that has informed us where to allocate our resources and the deployment of our men.
“All the security agencies are collaborating seriously to ensure that this election is violence-free. My appeal to people who want to come out and make trouble during this election is for them to stay away from the election because there will be no place for them to operate. We are aware of mobilisation by supporters of some candidates. We are already monitoring them and we are ready for them during this election. I appeal to those who just want to come out and disrupt this election to stay away. I appeal to the electorates to come out en masse to cast their vote during this election. We are committed to a peaceful election and there is no going back on that.”
The assurances for peaceful conduct did not just come from the security agents. INEC constantly assured the people that it was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the election was peaceful and the votes of the people counted. In the words of the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, only the people of Bayelsa and the other two states will decide who becomes their governor because the commission had no candidate in the election. To ensure that the election was conducted under the law, the commission deployed two additional National Commissioners and nine Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) the staff in Yenagoa to supervise the conduct of the election.
In a message to the people of the state, Prof Yakubu asked all INEC deployed officials (both regular and ad hoc staff) to display the highest level of professionalism and patriotism throughout the election. He also assured that election results will be uploaded in the INEC Result Viewing portal, insisting that the commission was not a political party and had no candidate in the election. He said “Despite the extremely difficult terrain and physical infrastructure in some locations, we are determined to ensure that our officials are there waiting for voters rather than the voters waiting for our arrival. An election is a multi-stakeholder responsibility. As with every election, lessons have been learnt from recent elections. We will continue to ensure free, fair, credible and inclusive elections but INEC cannot do it alone”.
Aside from the INEC Supervisory Presiding Officer in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state who was abducted by unknown persons while waiting to board a boat to his duty post and a few incidences of reported cases of attempt to snatch election materials, the election in Bayelsa state went peacefully but not without the major contenders insinuating isolated cases of manipulation of the process. There were even allegations of money running into millions being found with certain individuals. But the security agents never made any confirmation of such discovery. The EFCC was seen moving from one polling unit to the other, but that did not stop incidences of vote buying. In one of the polling units in Yenagoa, The Nation saw women in police uniform directing voters to where to collect their pay after casting their votes. It was gathered that this was the situation in several other polling units across the state, but nobody was arrested for either buying or selling their votes.
Contrary to expectations, The Nation’s checks suggest that ad-hoc officials commenced the upload of the election results on the INEC Election Viewing Portal (IREV) immediately after polls closed at 2.30 pm in many polling units. However, the election was extended beyond the period in some units. As of 7.00 pm on Saturday, November 11, 2023, results from about 1680 representing 74.87 per cent of results from the 2242 polling units where the election took place in Bayelsa State have been uploaded on the IREV. Interestingly, the results from all the polling units in Governor Douye Diri’s Kolokoma/Opokuma Local Government were uploaded on the IREV within a few hours after the close of polls (7.00 pm). An earlier report quoting the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ebo Effanga as saying that the results from the state will be transmitted manually created lots of fear in the minds of residents. But the REC told newsmen that he was quoted out of context. The fast upload of the results added to the credibility of the exercise, even though stakeholders tried to heat the polity thereafter.
On the eve of the election, Yenagoa, the state capital, was like a shadow of itself. At the Ekeki Central Motor Park, there was no vehicle to ferry people out of the capital as most of the residents had already travelled to locations where they registered to enable them to cast their vote. Many shops in the town were closed. The hotels in the town were a beehive of activities; most of them were fully booked. Many of those who came into the town on the eve of the election were not able to secure decent accommodations. Attention shifted to the INEC office was personnel and materials for the elections were being mobilised to the various locations where the election was to take place. The security in and around the state was heavy with about 26,000 policemen mobilised from the South zone to the state. For first-time visitors to the state, it was difficult to get good food to eat. Even the NUJ Secretariat which would have been a beehive of activities became an abandoned zone. The environment was tense, but calm as residents’ trend with caution in anticipation. Petty traders milled around the INEC office selling their commodities.
Many had expected that the governorship election in Bayelsa would be rocked by violence, but it went as the most peaceful election in the state. Except for a handful of places, election materials arrived on schedule while accreditation and voting were also hitch-free.
One interesting aspect of the election in Bayelsa was the decision of the electoral management body to restrict a certain category of officials supervising the election to the commission staff drawn from neighbouring states. Effanga said the commission decided to use only permanent staff of the commission as Supervisory Presiding Officers in the state to protect the sanctity of the process. He said while the commission in the state will rely on Corps members to act as Presiding Officers, it chose to use staff of the commission to help supervise the process because they will be more mindful of securing the process. He said in the past, both staff of the commission and none staff were engaged as supervisory presiding officers. He added: “This time, we noticed that a lot of them from neighbouring states applied. So, we paid more attention to them being staff of the commission. They will be mindful of the return and security of INEC materials. They are also conscious of the implications of having a credible election. So, we trust that they will be more professional in handling their assignment.”
About 26,000 security personnel drawn from states around Bayelsa were on the ground to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election. When The Nation visited the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa, there was a heavy presence of security personnel in and around the office, while some of those who applied to be ad hoc staff were seen checking their names on a list posted outside the gate. It is not clear whether it is the presence of the security personnel that was largely responsible for the smooth conduct of the election. But the determination of the people to decide who governs them was clear. The residents came out early to perform their civic duty and were determined not to be left behind. The elderly too were not left out. In one of the polling units, an old man who was the first to be attended to saw his name on the voters register, but the BVAS machine refused to authenticate him. He refused to be disenfranchised. At another unit, the presiding officer decided to start the process with the elderly and pregnant women, but the people refused to insist that they be treated on a first-come, first basis. There was collaboration among the party agents. In one of the polling units within Yenagoa, the agents insisted that they wait for agent the APCs before commencing voting. But when he finally came, he was not without his accreditation card.
However, election observers were not seen in several polling units within the capital as many of them prefer to visit where the big men voted. The question however is what will election observers accredited to monitor and ensure a credible election be doing in the house of candidates in an election? This was the situation in Bayelsa State where several accredited observers were seen in the house of the state governor who was a candidate in the election.
Candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva accused the PDP and the Nigerian Military of molesting voters, saying the contest appeared to be between the APC and the security agents, particularly the military, which he said had taken sides. He said: “This morning I woke up with the story of one of my APC members being shot in Yenagoa. In the afternoon we heard the situation the military personnel have taken over some areas, in fact in the Biseni community the military are there to snatch ballot boxes.”
However, former President Goodluck Jonathan appealed to the National Assembly to stop off-season elections in the country. Dr. Jonathan said “I get worried about the issue of off-season election and I will use this as a unique opportunity to plead with the National Assembly that we need to block this off-season election; it is very odd, it’s not a global best practice. A country can elect their people at different times like America, they may not elect at the same time. But every time they go on to do elections, they elect everybody that is meant to be elected. If we continue with this trend of off-season elections based on the interpretation of our laws, it will come to a time that the Presidential election will be off-season probably that’s the time that a lot of you media people should be worried. Look at the American system, everybody knows when the American elections will be conducted, and that’s the standard practice of other countries. When I say the Nigerian Presidential election may be off-season someday, some people will ask how. Why? It almost happened in 2007 when I contested as a running mate to President Yar’Adua. These seven states with off-season elections can be migrated back to fall in line with the other states. The National Assembly can do that; that is my message for the National Assembly and Nigerians today.”
Bayelsa State Operations of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) has described as unfounded and unthinkable, allegations in a recent publication by the Caretaker Council Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government, Mr. Lucky Okodeh, and a video circulating on the social media alleging invasion of Igbomotoru community by TSSL, using the military.
The firm, owned by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, regretted that the recent publication from the caretaker chairman and an orchestrated video making the rounds of a supposed protest carried out by mischievous elements to bring its operations into disrepute, leaves a sour taste to be desired.
Recall that Igbomotoru community in the Bomo Clan of SILGA on Sunday protested the alleged invasion of the riverine community by military personnel and gunboats.
The community chiefs, women and youths, in several videos posted online, claimed that the invasion was allegedly at the instance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the November 11 election in the state, Chief Joshua Maciver.
But in a statement yesterday by the Coordinator, TSSL, Bayelsa State Operations, Maciver, he said what the scriptwriters of the purported protest failed to understand was that the organisation, as a private security company, did not possess the authority to order Federal Government forces but rather provided credible intelligence to guide federal forces in combating the menace of illegal bunkering and ‘kpofire’ activities.
Maciver urged indigenes of Igbomotoru community to go about their lawful duties, saying the military personnel were on ground to safeguard federal assets and by extension lives and property in the area.
He added that TSSL remained steadfast in its commitment to eradicating illegal bunkering activities across Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta.
Maciver said: “It is crucial to emphasise that the deployment of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in our operations is not meant to intimidate law-abiding citizens conducting lawful businesses.
“Additionally, the placement of gunboats extends beyond Igbomotoru community, encompassing strategic routes used by illicit crude oil bunkerers in areas such as Azuzuama, Tebidaba-Okoron, Lasukugbene, Lagosgbene and other communities.
“While we refrain from directly accusing individuals or groups involved in illicit activities, it is noteworthy that the expressed discomfort by CTC Chairman, Mr. Lucky Okodeh, in the media raises questions. It prompts speculation on whether he is aware of potential clandestine activities within the Igbomotoru axis, suggesting that the presence of security forces may unveil illicit crude oil syndicates and mercenaries, contrary to the Federal Government’s stance on crude oil theft.
“Moreover, during the launch operation of Igbomotoru camp of Tantita Security operations, which took place on October 14, 2022 and was attended by the state Coordinator, Great Joshua MacIver, along with the incumbent Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Lucky Okodeh, in company with security agencies, including the Nigerian Army with gunboats, the entourage was welcomed to a warm reception by the community members.
“The CTC chairman during that visit enjoined the community leadership to work with the surveillance company and security agencies and its apparatuses in place, noting that their presence in the town was not to take away their means of livelihood, but to better the lot of all and sundry in the course of their operations.
“To this date, Tantita Security along with the military and NSCDC have carried on with their responsibilities without any report of violence, harassment, or intimidation of any kind from 2022 up until this moment.
“We wish to state categorically that the call by the caretaker chairman of SILGA is unnecessary and not born out of goodwill, as it overlooks the collaborative efforts required to address security breaches common within riverine communities and environmental degradation associated with illegal bunkering activities.”
“As a responsible private security company, we anticipate the cooperation of local government authorities and Bayelsa State government in fostering a secure environment for residents.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan last weekend opened the debate on the propriety or otherwise of off-season elections. Speaking in an interview with journalists after voting at his Ward 13 Otuoke, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State in last Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election, Dr. Jonathan asked the country to put a stop to off-cycle elections, explaining that if the trend continued a time would come when even the presidential election might also become an off-cycle election. His grouse against off-season polls is that they are inconsistent with the global best practices.
“I get worried about the issue of off-season elections, and I will use this unique opportunity to plead with the National Assembly that we need to block off-season elections. It is very odd; it’s not a global best practice. A country can elect its people at different times, like the American election and some countries. They may not elect everybody at the same time but the only time they go on to conduct elections, they elect everybody that is supposed to be elected,” he said.
What the former president seeks is all elections should hold once or twice and there should be fixed periods for elections in Nigeria as is the practice in United States, where we copied our presidential system of government from. In the US, the presidential election takes place every four years, congressional and mid-term elections every two years and a variety of state and local elections hold every year.
The forner President, Dr. Jonathan has his point. Off-season election is what it is: it is not in sync with the electoral cycle, distorts the electoral calendar flow and makes elections costlier for a country like Nigeria as opposed to when everything is taken together once or twice.
But achieving the Jonathan proposal seems utopian. It’s a difficult and almost impossible thing to achieve without running foul of the constitution.
The distortion in the electoral cycle came about as a result of adjudication into some governorship election petitions since the democratic rebirth in 1999, which ate into the four-year term of some governors. Eight states fall within the off-cycle elections as a result of judicial judgements on election petitions. At present, the states include Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo. In the case of Osun State for instance, it took former Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola three solid years before he was able to retrieve his stolen mandate, such that his tenure, which ought to have begun in 2007 eventually started in 2010. Yet, by the constitution, he is entitled to a four-year tenure, and another four years, if re-elected, as was the case in 2014.
Electoral petitions used to go on interminably before. However, the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) has now fixed the time for the hearing and dispensing with election petitions within 180 days and any ensuing appeal within 60 days. The National Assembly that is at present working on the amendment of the Electoral Act should look into the former president’s suggestion and decide what is possible with respect to off-cycle elections.
In my view, off-cycle elections should ordinarily serve some useful purposes. Rather than injure our electoral system and democracy, they ought to deepen them.
This is what I mean: because the number of seats or constituencies involved in off-cycle elections are much smaller compared to nationwide elections, they normally should give the election stakeholders, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission, more leeway, indeed the latitude to work towards and engender good elections. They should give the security agencies the room and opportunity to properly police the votes and ensure compliance with the electoral rules and processes.
Let’s examine the wide gaps in the numbers involved, in the February 25, 2023 Presidential Election as compared with Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo off-cycle elections for instance. About 87 million Nigerians collected their PVCs from around 93 million voters registered. They were the eligible persons for the last presidential election (though only 26.71% of them turned out). In the election held in a total of 176, 846 polling stations, 18 political parties participated according to INEC. Also, the police deployed a total of 310, 973 personnel and 1,240 patrol vans for the election.
However, for last Saturday’s off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, a total of 5.4 million votes were available for grab by the 18 parties who participated in the polls while the elections took place in 10, 470 polling units across the three states. According to INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, there were 1,056, 862 registered voters in Bayelsa State, 2,419,922 in Imo State and 1,932,654 in Kogi State, making a combined total of 5,409,438 voters for the three states. 16 political parties sponsored candidates in Bayelsa, 17 in Imo and 18 in Kogi. For effect, the electoral commission also claimed it deployed 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners, six national commissioners and many administrative secretaries for the elections.
Now, my point is with that large number of election officials, police officers and other stakeholders deployed for just three gubernatorial seats last Saturday, there is no reason why the elections should not be almost flawless if not excellent.
As I argued earlier, the small number should prepare the ground for the conduct of good elections.
Another important thing about off-cycle elections is that in our situation, they are supposed to provide INEC with the opportunity to test run their arrangements and facilities for the general elections. The July 14 and September 22, 2018 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states for instance were supposed to prepare ground for the 2019 presidential polls just as the just-ended off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi and the governorship elections in Edo and Anambra scheduled to hold in 2024 and 2025 respectively are supposed to be used by INEC to prepare and particularly to further test its technological systems, the BIVAS and IReV, for the forthcoming 2027 general election.
But has that been the case with off-cycle polls? Writing on the Back Page of Thisday last Tuesday, cerebral columnist and ARISE TV anchor, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “Every off-cycle election is as bad as the main election, and are in many cases worse. Nigerian politicians and the various stakeholders are obsessed with their own greed, ambition and limitations. Nobody shows any capacity to learn any lessons, making every election the same of the same: the same incredulous pattern of criminality, conflict and capture.”
So what difference does it make whether the elections are off-cycle or nationwide?
Indeed, the same allegations of vote-buying, writing of results before the election, violence and other malpractices have greeted the just-ended off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi. INEC should investigate these anomalies and do the needful so it can at least help in future elections.
Governors Hope Uzodinma and Duoye Diri of Imo and Bayelsa states and All Progressives Congress candidate in Kogi, Ahmed Usman Ododo, have emerged winners of the governorship polls. Uzodinma won in all the 27 Local government areas of the state, polling a total of 540,308 votes to beat his closest challenger, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate Samuel Anyanwu who scored 71, 503 votes. The Bayelsa election across just eight local government areas was a tight one, stretching INEC for two days after the poll before a winner was announced particularly over the alleged manipulated results from Nembe.
Governor Duoye Diri of PDP polled 175, 196 votes to defeat ex-governor Timipre Sylva, the candidate of APC, who came second with 110, 108 votes, while none of the other 14 candidates scored up to 1000 votes.
Kogi off-cycle election was also contentious. There were allegations of writing of results before the election in Kogi Central where Governor Yahaya Bello, the White Lion as he is called, and his handpicked successor, APC candidate Ododo, hail from. INEC initially suspended the election, cancelled results from nine wards in Ogori-Magongo LGA in Kogi Central over electoral malpractices and fixed rerun in those wards for today, November 18. But the commission cancelled the idea of re-run in the affected wards arguing that the total votes from those nine wards would not make any difference in the gaps between the leading candidate Ododo and Social Democratic Party candidate Murtala Ajaka. Ododo was eventually declared the winner of the election, having won the majority of lawful votes.
There are a few remarkable things about the election though.
It is noteworthy that the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi elections proved bookmakers right. Many analysts had predicted victory for Uzodinma and Diri for various reasons including incumbency factor, even though Diri is of the opposition party at the centre. Ajaka performed brilliantly in the election but the opposition in the state is too fragmented to make a major impact to upstage the APC.
Another thing about the polls is that they were generally peaceful and devoid of much violence which is a credit to President Bola Tinubu and the police.
There was also a level-playing field. President Tinubu did not use his exalted position to oppress candidates of the other parties. At every turn, he would tell all those involved in the election to give everyone and every party equal chance.
This has been widely acknowledged and applauded. Indeed, the President deserves commendation on the off-cycle polls. We should take these gains into the future elections.
Rahman, former Editor of Thisday on Sunday is a Senior Presidential Aide.
Some ex-Niger Delta militant leaders have attributed the defeat of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, to the alleged unholy alliance between him and a former militant leader, Government Ekpemukpolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
They claimed that the previous award of over $370 million belonging to Bayelsa state (central corridor) to a contractor in Delta state angered many of the ex-militants in the corridor.
The ex-militant leaders in a statement on Wednesday, November 15, said the wide acceptance of the winner of the just-concluded Bayelsa governorship poll by the electorate was made possible by them to counter the undemocratic plan of the Sylva/Tompolo alliance.
The statement signed by Fidelis Nagard, also known as ‘Water Phython’, said the action of the ex-militant leaders was carried out as a show of force to let the Federal Government know that Tompolo is no longer a political factor in the Niger Delta.
The statement said: “We had it on good authority that Tompolo promised the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, that he would ensure Chief Timipre Sylva win in Bayelsa state, but other ex-militant leaders agreed on a counter plan to show to the Federal Government that Tompolo is not a political force in the region.
“Tompolo is only riding on past glory in which major ex-militant leaders played vital roles. Tompolo betrayed ex-militant leaders to secure the pipeline surveillance contract for himself and his ally.
“For the record, ex-militant leaders did not even deploy 10 percent of our plans and arsenal before checkmating the Sylva/Tompolo tactics.”
The ex-militant leaders, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure that development and empowerment policies for the region were not channelled through Tompolo and his likes.
They therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deal with each state separately, saying that any politician who passed through Tompolo would be disgraced.
They equally advised the Federal Government to take a close review of the crude oil pipeline surveillance contract and ensure that it is decentralized across the corridors in the region.
They warned: “If it is awarded to only one contractor, it is dead on arrival. If they go ahead, it will be sabotaged. The Federal Government should decentralise the contract for national and economic security interest of the country.”
The candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the just concluded governorship election in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has rejected the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, November 13.
He claimed that the Saturday’s poll in the state, which threw up the incumbent Governor Douye Diri as the winner, was marred by irregularities and massive vote buying.
INEC had declared the incumbent governor of the state and candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, Senator Douye Diri, winner, having scored a total of 175,196 votes. Eradiri, who scored a total of 905 votes came a distant third.
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Yenagoa, the state capital, Eradiri said the election was held against the cardinal principles, laid down procedures and ground rules that democratic elections to offices, especially that of the governor of a state, which stipulates free, fair, credible and peaceful poll.
He lamented that the state resources were used to intimidate the traumatized people during the election.
Eradiri said: “The election of Saturday, November 11, 2023 was marred by massive and mind-blowing vote buying. I consider vote buying a crime against humanity. I cannot engage in vote buying because it is a demonstration of lack of performance, unpopularity, incompetence, leadership failure and cluelessness on the part of the buyer. How can you bribe people to serve them?
“I contested this election to prove a point that this incompetence in Bayelsa can be challenged, I contested this election to solve the problems of lack of potable water, dearth of infrastructures, ravaging poverty and rot in the education sector.
“I contested this election to take our girls and boys out of the streets, to reverse the poor economic indices that have made our rich-Bayelsa the second poorest state in multidimensional poverty. I contested because I have the capacity, the experience, ideas and the courage to deliver good governance to our people.
“I wept when I saw the condition of our people, the naked squalor they live amidst plenty as I campaigned round the communities and held town hall meetings to solicit their votes. I was touched by the spontaneous show of love they gave me at their homes and villages.
“The process adopt at the polling units encouraged buying and selling of votes, it made it difficult for voters to even collect their money and still vote their conscience.
“I call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe all electoral officers that participated in the election, most of them are the reasons for rampant voters inducement in our country’s election. The commission should investigate the massive monetary inducements that occurred in the Bayelsa election.
“I want to assure our people that I won’t give up, I will continue to challenge this system until Bayelsa is rescued from poverty, underdevelopment, darkness and other leadership ills.”
INEC declares PDP’s Diri winner of Bayelsa election
By Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, the winner of the just-concluded governorship election in the state.
Diri polled 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former petroleum minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, who scored 110,108 with the Labour Party candidate, Udengs Eradiri, scoring 905 to come a distant third.
The governor won in six out of the eight local government areas as he coasted home to victory in Yenagoa, Kolokuma-Opokuma, Sagbama, Ekeremor, Ogbia, and Southern Ijaw while Sylva won in Brass and Nembe local government areas.
But the agent of the APC, Dennis Otiotio, said his party would not sign the result sheet because the party’s over 84,000 collated votes were cancelled by INEC at the commission’s office.
After seven local government areas, Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leads the Candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva with 63,926
Diri: 137,909 votes + 12,602 = 150,511
Sylva: 68,154 votes + 18,431= 86,585
63,926
Chief Timipre Sylva wins his Brass LGA
Brass LGA
APC: 18,431 LP: 83 PDP: 12,602
Total valid: 31,211 Rejected: 403 Total Vote Cast 31,614
PDP’s Diri coasting home to victory in Bayelsa after six LGAs
Bayelsa Governor and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Douye Diri, has won five out of the six local government areas’ results so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The results of the governorship election, which started on Saturday, are being collated at the INEC head office in Yenagoa by the Collation Officer, Prof. Kuta Farouk, who is the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna.
Diri has so far won Kolokuma-Opokuma, Yenagoa, Ogbia, Sagbama and Ekeremor while his closest rival, Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won Nembe Local Government Area.
The collation was adjourned till 6pm to announce results from two remaining local government areas of Brass and Southern Ijaw.
Diri has so far garnered 137,909 votes in the six LGAs announced while Sylva polled 68,154 votes with Udengs Eradiri of Labour Party getting only 703 votes.
But the collation centre almost became rowdy following the protest by the APC agent, Dennis Otiotio, who complained that 27,968 votes scored by APC in Nembe were cancelled by the local government area collation officers.
He said acting on the directive of the REC, the LGA officer cancelled results collated in four wards of Nembe.
Otiotio insisted that the officer acted ikkegally as he had no right to cancel results already collated at the units and wards of any local council.
He complained that the collation of results of all LGAs won by APC were forcefully moved to the INEC office in Yenagoa while areas won by the PDP were collated at the ward levels.
Otiotio held to his grounds that the disposition of the state collation Officer suggested that he did not want the APC agent at the collation centre.
But Prof. Farouk took exception to the comment and clarified that he only wanted all agents to document their complaints officially insisting that the centre had no power to resolve their issues.
The agent of the PDP, Chief Talford Ongolo, countered Otiotio saying the REC had the power to cancel collated results in areas marred by violence, bypass of the BVAs and abduction of INEC officials.
Below is the summary of all the six LGA results so far collated:
Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA
APC 5349
PDP 18,465
LP 22
2. Ogbia LGA, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Local Government Area
Registered 119,571
Accredited 36,955
PDP wins with small margin
APC 16,319
PDP 18435
LP 57
Yenagoa LGA
Registered: 218,394
Accredited: 54,380
APC 14,534
PDP 37,777
LP 244
Valid votes: 53,052
Rejected: 1018
Vote cast: 54070
Sagbama LGA
Registered: 138,832
Accredited : 42879
APC: 6, 608
PDP: 35,504
LP: 217
Valid 42,467
Rejected: 393
Vote cast: 42860
Nembe LGA
Registered: 99,035
Accredited: 27,404
APC: 22,248
PDP: 4,556
LP: 113
Total valid votes 27,036
Total rejected 264
Vote cast 27300
Ekeremor LGA
Registered: 137,221
Accredited: 32,066
APC: 8,445
PDP: 23,172
LP: 50
Total valid votes: 31741
Rejected 279
Total Vote Cast 32,020
Diri wins Ekeremor LGA
Registered: 137,221 Accredited: 32,066 APC: 8,445 PDP: 23,172 LP: 50 Total valid votes: 31741 Rejected 279 Total Vote Cast 32,020
Sylva of the APC wins Nembe, his maternal local government area beating Diri with a wide margin.
Elections were cancelled in three wards because of abduction, obstruction and diversion of electoral materials. The RAs were abducted and the materials were seized from them.
Diri of the PDP wins in Sagbama, the local government area of former Governor Seriake Dickson and the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewrujakpor. He beats Sylva with a wide margin.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa says its Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO), abducted on Friday, has regained his freedom.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SPO was abducted by gunmen on his way to the Registration Area Centre – 06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama Local Government Area.
The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of the state INEC in Yenagoa, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, confirmed the cheering news in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday.
According to Ifogah, the officer is hale and hearty.
NAN reports that the officer, whose name was not disclosed, was abducted while waiting at Amassoma Jetty to board a boat to his place of deployment.
The Spokesman for the Police Command in the state, CSP Asinim Butswat, could not be reached for comments.
(NAN)
INEC uploads Bayelsa results on IREV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced uploading of results of Saturday governorship election on the INEC Election Viewing Portal (IREV).
Elections in most of the polling units across the state closed at 2.30pm, while election extended beyond the period in some others.
However, as at 5.36pm, about 69 percent of results have been uploaded on the IREV, with the portal showing that all results in the Governor’s ward have been uploaded.
Results are uploaded on the IREV directly from the polling unit after collation and announcement of such results by the Presiding Officer.
Sorting, counting of votes ongoing in Bayelsa
Sorting and counting of votes have commenced in many polling units in Bayelsa after voting in the governorship election ended at 2.30pm.
At PU 10, Agric Meeting Hall, Attissa 1, Yenagoa, the voting process ended at 2.30pm while sorting of ballot papers commenced at 2.35pm in the presence of party agents and security personnel.
It was also ongoing at PU 05 Government House Agric, Attissa 1 Ward as at 2.55pm, and PU 047, Afin-Aken Play Ground III, Onopa, Attissa 1 Ward as at 3.02 pm.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sorting of votes commenced at 3.07 pm at PU 016 Fakulu Primary School (West), Epie lll Ward, while sorting was concluded at PU 035, Ekeki Central Motor Park, Epie lll Ward, where recording of the result was ongoing.
Also at Fankien l and ll/Corpers Lodge Road, Epie lll WaWard Yenagoa, the sorting and counting had been concluded, while result was been uploaded to INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) as at 3.21pm.
The PU Assistant Presiding Officer at the polling unit, Richmond Awipi, told NAN they had successfully uploaded the unit’s election results to the IReV.
PDP’s Diri inducing voters with money, says LP candidate
Labour Party governorship candidate, Udengs Eradiri has alleged that his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart and incumbent governor, Douye Diri is inducing voters with money.
Eradiri spoke after casting his vote in Ward 10, Unit 5, Ekpetiama, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Saturday, November 11.
The former president of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Worldwide, said it was unfortunate that the government was buying votes with state resources that should be used to improve the lives of the people of Bayelsa State.
He said: “Some of us have decided that we will embrace the non-violent approach. But behind the scenes, state resources are everywhere, money is being exchanged for votes, ten, fifteen, twenty thousand, and so on.
“Money that would have been used in building good schools, standard hospitals and improving the lots of the people they are buying peoples votes.”
He also accused the ruling party of entrenching poverty in the state despite the huge resources coming into the state.
He said: “The government in power, the ruling party in the state has entrenched poverty in a state that produced oil. Today Bayelsa is the second poorest state in the country
“And they are inducing voters with money. That is not the way to go. The people deserve better and we must change what is going on in the interest of the state.
“I will never buy votes, even if I have the money. I will never use the money to induce voters because it is not my nature. We must do things differently l-Hasan to Change our state and our society. “
He, however, expressed delight the election was going on smoothly in his area, saying Ekpetiama had remained a peaceful community.
Bayelsa poll: NDDC boss describes process as peaceful
The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has hailed the electoral process as peaceful.
Ogbuku who spoke to journalists shortly after casting his vote at unit 001 Derime polling unit Ayakoro in ward 3 of Ogbia Local government area of Bayelsa State after the initial glitches commended the independent National electoral Commission for a job well done.
He also noted further that information from communities around Ayama clan showed that the process is going on peacefully and warned trouble makers to stay clear of the process.
The NDDC helmsman further assured the people of Niger Delta to use his good offices to extend the dividend of democracy to the Niger Delta States, stressing that the renewed hope of Tinubu administration would touch the people of Niger Delta.
Highlights of the NDDC helmsman’s visit to his community was inspection of ongoing projects and other developmental projects.
It could be reported that, Derime polling unit 001 has total 0f 255 registered voters.
PDP, military molesting voters in Bayelsa, says Sylva
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Military of molesting voters in the ongoing governorship election.
Sylva spoke after casting his vote at Polling Unit 4, Dukuraku Central Open Space, Okpoama, Ward 4, Brass Local Government Area.
Sylva said the contest appeared to be between APC and the security agents, particularly the military, which he said had taken sides.
He said : “I am very confident that things will go for APC but we have some issues in units 3, 5 and 9 because the registers are not uploaded. We have escalated it to INEC and they accepted that it was a careless mistake on their part. I know why units in my ward were not uploaded.
“So far, in my unit things are going well but around the state we are following there is a lot of violence. PDP is doing quite a bit there trying to molest our voters with security. In fact in some cases it is believed that we are running this election not against PDP but against security. But we are contending with the situation and in the end we will come out victorious.
“This morning I woke up with the story of one of my APC members being shot in Yenagoa. In afternoon we heard the situation the military personnel have taken over some areas, in fact in Biseni community the military are there to snatch ballot boxes.”
APC commends INEC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the success so far recorded in the on-going governorship election in the state.
APC Publicity Secretary in Bayelsa, Mr Doifie Boukoribo, gave the commendation shortly after casting his vote in polling Unit 4, Ward 4 Okpo Play Ground II, Okpoama Brass Local Government Area (LGA).
Boukoribo, however, expressed displeasure over reports alleging that some APC members were prevented from voting at Sampou and other communities in Kolokuma Opokuma LGA.
He called on security agencies to wade into the situation and ensure that all Bayelsa citizens of voting age exercised their franchise. (NAN)
Vote buying rocks Bayelsa election
There were isolated cases of vote buying at the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa state.
The Nation discovered voters being directed to two gentlemen and a lady seated comfortably at one of the polling units after voting for settlement.
One of the voters had to give his ballot paper to one of those involved to vet before casting the ballot.
In some cases, it was not the voters that cast the ballot after thumb printing.
Some police officials were seen directing voters to where to collect money, while some voters approached a team of a journalist to show their voter cards thinking they were part of those distributing money.
Voting commences in Sylva’s ward after 3 hours delay
Voting in the ongoing governorship election has commenced after about three hours delay in Okpoama Ward, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Okpoama Ward Polling Unit-4 has 17 polling centres and is the electoral ward of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that accreditation and voting across the ward commenced at about 11am after the initial delay in the sorting and distribution of electoral materials to the 17 polling centres.
Already, people have taken queues to vote for the governorship candidate of their choice in an orderly manner.
NAN also reports that the area is calm as security personnel, party agents and INEC officials go about their normal duties.
A community leader, Chief Nathan Sobote, who voted at polling centre 6, Okpo play ground, frowned at the delay in the arrival of voting materials, but commended the peaceful atmosphere in the area. (NAN)
Bayelsa Decides: Early arrival of election materials, voting in Yenagoa
There was early arrival of election officials and commencement of voting in some Polling Units in Ward 5, Yenagoa Local Government Area in the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, though few voters turned out early for the election, the atmosphere was calm as officials took charge of the exercise.
At PU 11 Fanwa Ekenu Square, Ward 5 Epie II, Yenagoa with 1,067 electoral officers, set up was completed by 8.29am with security personnel on ground.
Similarly, at PU 27 Yenizue Gene market, ward 5 (Epie II), Yenagoa, the Presiding Officers were waiting for voters as at the time NAN monitored the process.
At PU 011, Ward 5 Apie II, Yenagoa with 1,430 registered voters, the electoral officers were setting up as at 8.35am, and voters were on the queue to vote.
The presiding officer, Mr Awulonu David, said that everything was in order and all the needed election materials were intact.
At 8.58, PU 27 Gene market, ward 5(Epie II), with 40 registered voters, the electoral officers had also finished seting up waiting for voters to commence the exercise.
There was also the presence of security personnel at the polling unit.
Similarly, election officials had finished setting up by 9.28am at PU 008, Kpansia Sisibi Primary School, Epie III, Yenagoa LGA, with 750 registered voters, but voting did not commence because there was no ink in the election materials bags.
Voters and INEC electoral officers were still waiting for the ink as at 9.28am. (NAN)
INEC satisfied with early arrival of materials
One of the nine Resident Electoral Commissioners deployed to Bayelsa state to supervise the governorship election in Bayelsa state, Mrs. Caroline Okpe has expressed satisfaction with the early arrival of materials to several polling units in parts of the state.
Okpe who is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Nasarawa state spoke at Polling unit 008 Kpansia Sisibir Primary school in Yenagoa while monitoring the exercise.
According to her, the early arrival was due to the deployment of Electoral Officials to the Registration Area Centres, RACs where they slept overnight.
When asked why voting did not commence on time despite the early arrival of the INEC officials, the REC said that though they arrived on time they had to wait for the official time to commence voting.
She appealed to the electorate to continue to maintain peace to avoid cancellation of their votes as a result of violence.
Thugs invade polling units in Southern Ijaw, Sagbama, hijack materials
By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa
Yet to be identified hoodlums have invaded polling units in Sagbama local Government area with heavy gunshots and hijacked election materials.
At about 9 am at Agorogbene, units 6, 7 and 8 in Ward 11 of the Local Government, suspected thugs from Southern Ijaw allegedly escorted by a certain politician chased away voters and destroyed election materials.
Attempts by the electorate to challenge the armed men were replied with heavy gunshots.
Also around 9 am, the armed thugs stormed the RAC centre and carted away election materials for five out of the seven units.
The ward 11 leader of one of the parties was alleged to have led the armed thugs.
At Ogiadiama Ward 9 in Unit 14 of Southern Ijaw Local Government area, gunmen stormed the unit but were repelled after an emergency call to security men.
Sporadic gunshots were also reported to have been heard around the Imbikiri area of Brass Ward 2 at about 3.30 am on Saturday.
At Famgbe in Yenagoa local Government, thugs were engaged in a gun duel with security agents, with some recorded casualties.
BREAKING: Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri votes at ward unit four at Kalawe Owei, sampou
By Mike Odiegwu
INEC presiding officer conducting the data capturing of a senior citizen at polling unit 19 in Akenpai ward in Yenagoa, during ongoing off circle Governorship election in Bayelsa state Saturday November 11.
By Tony Akowe
As of 8.31am, several polling officers were yet to leave the RAC centre for ward 6 located at the Government Science and Technical College, Okaka. Only one bus was available to move the Corps members, while many others were still waiting for their vehicle. There is heavy security presence at the centre.
By Tony Akowe
Distribution of materials to polling units in ward 6, Yenagoa at the Government Science and Technical College, Okaka 8:31 am
By Tony Akowe
INEC Official abducted in Sagbama, as boat capsized in Southern Ijaw
By Tony Akowe, Yenagoa
An INEC Supervisory Presiding Officer in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state has been abducted by unknown persons while waiting to board a boat to his duty post.
The Head of Information and Voter Education at the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa, Wilfred Ifogah said in a statement that the SPO was. Abducted at the Amassoma jetty while waiting to board a boat to Registration Area-06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA.
Ifogah who said in a statement that security agents have been notified of the development also confirmed that a boat conveying election personnel to Registration Area-17 (Koluama) in Southem Ijaw LGA capsized.
The statement reads “The Independent National Electoral Commission, Bayelsa State Office commenced the movement of Personnel and electoral materials to the Registration Area Centers (RACs) on Friday 10th November, 2023.
“However we wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to Registration Area-17 (Koluama) in Southem Ijaw LGA capsized.
“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 5368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the affected area.
“INEC also reports that its SPO assigned to Registration Area-06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA was abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma Jetty. The security agencies have been notified.”
A boat carrying 12 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, has capsized.
It was also gathered that a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) assigned to a registration area in Sagbama Local Government Area was abducted by unknown persons at Amassoma jetty while waiting to board a boat.
INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday night.
Ifogah said the ill-fated boat was heading for the registration area 17 in Kolouama Southern Ijaw.
He said fortunately no life was lost as all the election personnel numbering 12 and the boat operator were rescued immediately.
He said: “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 Area is 5,368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the areas”.
On the kidnapped SPO, he said: “INEC also reports that its SPO assigned to Registration Area 06 (Osioma) in Sagbama LGA was abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma jetty. The security agencies have been notified .”
Bayelsa guber: Appeal Court rejects case seeking Sylva’s exclusion from election
By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal seeking to prevent former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva from participating in the Saturday, November 11, governorship election in Bayelsa state.
In a judgment on Thursday evening, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal held that the appeal brought by Hon Isikima Ogbomade Johnson was without merit.
In the judgment read by Justice Binta Zubar, the court held that the subject matter of the case was non-justiceable, adding that the case was brought in bad faith.
The court upheld Sylva’s argument that it cannot be said that he took the oath of office as a Governor twice because his first election as Governor of Bayelsa State was voided by courts, which informed why another election was conducted, which he won.
The Court of Appeal, in the judgment on the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1052/2023 rejected the appellant’s claim that the primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 14 which produced Sylva as the party’s candidate, was held without compliance with relevant laws.
The appellate court held that the overwhelming evidence presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC showed that no legal provision was violated in the conduct of the primary.
It added that with the undisputed evidence coupled with the monitoring report produced by INEC,, the allegations by the appellant that Sylva emerged from a flawed primary election was unfounded.
The court said: “From the uncontroverted independent report of INEC, it was clear beyond any doubt that a valid primary election was conducted by APC and monitored by the electoral umpire as required by law.”
It also held that the case of the appellant was statute-barred having been instituted outside the 14 days allowed by law as a pre-election matter.
The Court of Appeal proceeded to uphold the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo which on September 26, dismissed the suit by Mrs. Johnson for lacking in merit and substance.
The Court of Appeal also imposed a cost of N1 million against the appellant.
Mrs. Johnson had, by an originating summons, sued the APC, INEC and Sylva before the Federal High Court, praying for an order to disqualify Sylva from the November 11 governorship election on the grounds that he had been elected into governorship office twice and took the oath of office and oath of allegiance twice.
She also claimed that the April 14 primary election that produced Sylva was illegal and unlawful, having been allegedly done in contravention of APC’s guidelines.
Protests rock Bayelsa over call for removal of police commissioner
Two groups staged different protests on the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital on Friday, November 10, in favour and against the state Commissioner of Police, Tolani Alausa, ahead of Saturday, November 11, governorship election.
The first group of women dressed in black took to the streets chanting slogans and demanding the removal of Alausa.
The women started their protest on Thursday and were addressed by the police authorities and asked to remain calm but they resurfaced again on Friday to continue with their demonstration.
Their efforts to march to the police headquarters proved abortive as they were reportedly dispersed with teargas by anti-riot policemen.
The women were said to have been sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government of the state said to be uncomfortable with the disposition of the commissioner.
But another crowd of residents staged a unity walk, titled Operation Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Sir. Tolani Alausa Must Stay.
They expressed confidence in Alausa saying that the PDP government was plotting against him because he refused to do their bidding.
The group commended the Inspector-General of Police for not succumbing to the blackmail of the state government, which they said was capable of breaching the peace.
INEC to use permanent staff as supervisory presiding officers in Bayelsa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa state has said that it decided to use only permanent staff of the commission as supervisory presiding officers in Saturday governorship elections in the state to protect the sanctity of the process.
The Nation however learnt that about 26,000 security personnel have been deployed to the state for the elections and have been posted to the various local government and polling units.
Speaking with members of the INEC Press Corps in his office, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga also asked youths if the state and other residents not to allow themselves be used to disrupt the election.
Effanga explained that while the commission in the state will rely on Corps members to act as Presiding Officers, it chooses to use staff of the commission to help supervise the process because they will be more mindful of securing the process.
He said in the past, both staff of the commission and none staff were engaged as supervisory presiding officers, adding that “this time, we noticed that a lot of them from. Neighbouring states applied. So, we paid more attention to them being staff of the commission.
He said: “They will be mindful of the return and security of INEC materials. They are also conscious of the implications of having a credible election. So, we trust that they will be more professional in handling their assignment.”
Effanga appealed to the people of the state to allow a free and fair process leading to the emergence of the next governor of the state, while discouraging acts of violence that might undermine the process.
He said: “I want to appeal to the people of the state to shun acts of violence. For the youths, they should not allow politicians to use them to disrupt the process of the election.
He said the candidates in the election should abide by the peace agreement they signed ahead of the election, saying Nigerians and indeed the people of Bayelsa will be held accountable for the promise they made to allow peace before, during, and after the election.
While asking political actors in the state to call their supporters to order, he said it is evident to all that every violent disruption of the election process is sponsored by someone.
He said that only one person can always only the winner of an election, the REC said those who can accept defeat in an election should not venture into any form of contest because, in any election, there are always more losers than winners.
He said when the candidates allow peace to reign, the state will be the ultimate winner, assuring that results from the election will be uploaded on the spot on the INEC election Viewing portal from the polling units
He assured that with barely any last-minute disruption, the polls will open at 8.00 am and close at 2.00 pm across the state, adding that both sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the various Registration Areas (wards) across the state.
He said the commission was not anticipating any delay in the polls process, saying the Commission was working in partnership with the various security agents to ensure a peaceful election across the state while expressing satisfaction with the deployment of security agents for the election.
Effanga disclosed that about 1,017,613 voters who collected their permanent voters’ cards will participate in Saturday’s election.
When The Nation visited the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa, there was a heavy presence of security personnel in and around the office, while some of those who applied to be ad hoc staff were seen checking their names on a list posted outside the gate.
Insecurity: Election observer group identifies Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw LGAs as flashpoints
By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
An election management team, CellHub, has identified Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa local government Areas as key flashpoints that security agencies should pay attention to ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State.
The election monitoring group noted that there may be mayhem during the polls in the five LGAs of the state.
The organisation commended the performance of security agencies involved in the pre-election operations, particularly the military.
In a statement signed on Friday by its Executive Director, Idris Usman, the group acknowledged the commitment, professionalism, and diligence so far displayed by security personnel deployed to ensure a secure and conducive environment for the electoral process.
It said efforts of security agencies have contributed significantly to building public confidence and ensuring the smooth conduct of pre-election activities in Bayelsa State.
The statement said: “However, as part of our ongoing collaboration to enhance the electoral process, CellHub urges the security agencies to concentrate their efforts on identified flashpoints within certain local government areas. These areas include Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa local government areas.
“We have noticed over the last 24 hours, reported cases of intimidation and violence in some communities, in particularly, Brass and Nembe local government.
“Recognising the significance of these local governments and the potential challenges they may pose, CellHub calls for heightened vigilance, strategic deployment, and effective communication among security personnel. By focusing on these flashpoints, we aim to preemptively address potential security concerns and ensure the safety of voters, electoral officials, and other stakeholders.”
He also expressed the commitment of the team to work closely with security agencies, INEC, political stakeholders, and the international community to foster an atmosphere of transparency, fairness, and security throughout the electoral process.
The statement added: “As it believes that a collaborative approach is crucial for the success of the democratic exercise in Bayelsa state.
“As we move towards the governorship election on Saturday, CellHub emphasizes the importance of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality by all involved parties.
“We call on the citizens of Bayelsa State to cooperate with the security agencies and electoral officials, contributing to the creation of a peaceful and credible electoral environment.”
Yiaga Africa predicts low voter turnout in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa governorship elections
By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
An election observer group, Yiaga Africa, has predicted low voter turnout for the Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi Governorship elections despite a high collection rate of permanent voter cards.
The organisation based the prediction on the “pre-election violence, a deep sense of citizens’ distrust, apparent fear of intimidation, voter fatigue and loss of faith in elections as a means to achieving democratic leadership.”
To avoid the situation, Yiaga Africa advocated for eleventh-hour confidence-building voter education to improve voter turnout.
A member of the Board of Yiaga Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu stated this during a pre-election press conference on Friday in Abuja.
The organisation would be deploying 659 duly trained and accredited stationary and roving observers to observe the conduct of the governorship election in the three states.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the number of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) collected in Bayelsa was 1,017,613, in Imo, 2,318,919 and 1,833,160 in Kogi state.
“Despite these high collection rates, Yiaga Africa projects low voter turnout in the respective states owing to the spate of pre-election violence, a deep sense of citizens’ distrust, apparent fear of intimidation, voter fatigue and loss of faith in elections as a means to achieving democratic leadership. Yiaga Africa advocates for eleventh-hour confidence-building voter education to improve voter turnout.”
He said at the end of the polls, Yiaga Africa observers would be deployed to all LGAs and State’s results collation centres to observe and report the results collation process.
Nwagwu said: “This will involve deploying 600 stationary observers to a representative randomly selected sample of 300 polling units for each of these 2 states. In addition to the PRVT methodology, Yiaga Africa will deploy 9 observers in Bayelsa State to observe the process and LGA results collation.
“This deployment will enable Yiaga Africa to provide the most timely and accurate information on the governorship elections in the states. Using the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT), Yiaga Africa will also provide an independent projection of voter turnout in Imo and Kogi States and will be able to project the vote shares that each party should receive within a narrow-estimated range. If the official results fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated ranges, then the public, political parties, and candidates should have confidence in the ballots cast at the polling units.
“Only INEC has the legal mandate to announce the election results. As soon as INEC announces the official results, Yiaga Africa will follow up with a result verification press conference to share its statement on the accuracy of the election results. Utilising information communications technology and statistical principles, PRVT is the gold standard for citizen election observation and has been utilised throughout Africa and the world. Yiaga Africa has also deployed this methodology in the 2019 & 2023 Presidential elections and in 14 State Governorship Elections.”
Yiaga Africa also called on INEC to ensure the operational shortcomings in previous elections are properly addressed ahead of the elections, especially the early deployment of election materials to all polling units.
He said: “Collation and Returning Officers deployed in the election should be individuals of proven integrity and impeccable character. INEC should ensure effective oversight to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and guidelines on results collation.
“INEC should ensure proper and timely communication with stakeholders on the election day process, challenges experienced and immediate plans to address those challenges to inspire citizens’ confidence in the process.”
The statement read: “Unfolding Situation in Brass Local Government Area. The Commission is closely watching the situation in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State where our officials are held hostage.”
“This is detrimental to credible elections. We call on the security agencies to immediately facilitate their release.”
Tension has built up around the head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital following the commencement of the collation of the results of the ongoing governorship election in the state.
Supporters, loyalists, and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stormed the area in their numbers to protest results being awaited from some local government areas where they claimed there was no election.
The protesters blocked the Swali Road leading to the INEC office to stop the commission from accepting the results of Nembe Bassambiri, which they claimed were manipulated.
The Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dambo Biriyai, (SAN), alleged that the election did not take place in Nembe Bassambiri.
He called on INEC REC in the state, Mr Obo Effanga, and Southsouth Commissioner for INEC May Agbamuche-Mbu to reject the results.
He claimed that PDP members, who visited their country home of Bassambiri, were prevented entry by the combined team of the police and APC thugs.
The development led to the massive deployment of armed security operatives around the INEC office.
Over four Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) belonging to the military and the police were used to block the entrance of the Swali Road.
The armed operatives vigilantly watched the area and prevented people without genuine business from entering the INEC office.
But the supporters of Diri kept vigil around the INEC office refusing to leave the area.
Some deadly-looking youths were seen moving around the INEC office but we’re not allowed by the security agents to enter the commission’s premises.
Diri’s supporters danced to the song wafting from huge speakers installed in a governor’s campaign vehicle.
At the collation, the Rivers State Governor won the three local government areas so far declared by INEC.
Diri won his Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area scoring 18,465 votes against his closest rival of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, who got 5349 while the Labour Party (LP) had 22.
In Ogbia, the LGA of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Diri won with a small margin.
