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Tag: Bayelsa

  • CSOs protest, demand fresh Bayelsa elections

    Civil Society Organisations ( CSOs ) in Bayelsa State protested peacefully in Yenagoa, the state capital demanding fresh presidential and National Assembly elections in some wards in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas.

    The protesters, who marched to the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) displayed placards with various inscriptions.

    They bemoaned the violence that marred the elections and wondered why INEC should declare results in areas where elections could not hold.

    The National Coordinator, Grassroots For Development Support and Transformation Initiative (GDSTI) Toitoi Newton, said the CSOs sought a cancellation of the purported results from Constituency 4 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    He said: ‘What happened on election day in my Constituency 4 in Southern Ijaw was a rape of democracy. INEC and the security personnel colluded to hijack our voting materials.

    “We absolutely condemn this and the fraudulent declaration of results in areas election did not hold in our constituency.

    “The security personnel intimidated our people, shooting and hijacked election materials in wards 4, 15 and 16. We say no to this rape of democracy.”

    Tonye Richard of the Onward Restoration Advocacy Movement (ORAM) said elections could not hold in the 7 wards of Nembe-Bassambiri following violence orchestrated by political thugs, who were aided by security personnel deployed in the community.

    “There was no election in Nembe-Bassambiri. Our people came out to vote but they were deprived. They were chased away from their own town by thugs backed by the military,” he said.

    Stephen Seleke of the Advocacy for Peace (AP) noted that what happened in parts of the state during the election negated constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act.

    He said: “The Constitution of Nigeria is the norm, the alpha and omega. It represents the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerians.

    “The guidelines on how elections are conducted are enshrined in the Constitution and the Electoral Act. So anything that is contrary to the Constitution or the Electoral Act on the issue of election cannot stand.

    “For instance, the military played a role in the election in Southern Ijaw that negated the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “That is why we came to register our grievances over the conduct of the military. Southern Ijaw and indeed the entire Niger Delta was militarised during the election in order to undermine, frustrate, threaten and intimidate the electorate.

    “We want to sound it clearly to the military and INEC that the youths of Bayelsa State are not cowards.

    “We are also educated and intellectually sound. We will therefore stand against any form of electoral fraud.”

    Seleke however explained that the groups were not interested in promoting any particular political party but that the protest was to register their grievances over the conduct of the elections in the state.

  • 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.

  • APC wins two Reps, one Senate seats in Bayelsa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed candidates of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) won two seats in the House of Representative and one in the Senate in Bayelsa.

    The results showed the candidate of the APC for Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency, Israel Sunny-Goli scored 41,150 votes to win his closest of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Marie Ebikake, who polled 19, 279 votes.

    In Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, APC candidate Preye Oseke, scored 56,804 votes to defeat the candidate of the PDP and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson with 34,104 votes.

    APC also won the East Senatorial District with its candidate, Degi Eremienyo B. Wagara, scoring 43,303 to win his counterpart in the PDP, who polled 32,363 votes.

    But the PDP candidate, Agbedi Fredrick polled 48,076 to win his APC rival at the Ekeremor-Sagbama Federal Constituency, Daunemigha Famous, who scored 19,159.

    Read Also: APC reps candidate rejects result in Cross River

    In Yenagoa-Kolokuma, PDP candidate, Stephen Azaiki, scored 51,639 to win Blackson Osomkime, who polled 16,943.

    Also in Ogbia Federal Constituency PDP’s Fred Obua scored 12,048 to defeat the APC’s Samuel Ogbuku, who acne third with 7995. The ADC candidate, Rex Jude came second with 7995 votes.

    In the Bayelsa East Senatorial District, PDP’s Ewrudjakpor Lawrence scored 49 912 votes to win Mathew Karimo of APC, who got 20219 votes.

    In the Bayelsa Central, PDP’s Douye Diri got 83,978 to win the APC candidate, Festus Dawemiebi, who polled 70,998 votes.

  • Protest rocks Bayelsa as PDP demands poll cancellation

    Stern-looking soldiers on Monday barricaded the road leading to office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, following a protest by hundreds of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the state.

    PDP leaders, including members of the state Executive Council and National Assembly candidates of the party in the just-concluded general elections, led hordes of other party members to demand cancellation of results in some local government areas.

    Clad in black attire, the protesters were stopped at the entrance of the road leading to Swali, where the INEC office is located in Yenagoa by two military Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other fully armed soldiers.

    The protesters chanted solidarity songs until the Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Mr. Leberi Sampson, walked a few meters from the commission’s office to listen to their grievances.

    Leaders of the protest were the state Chairman of the PDP, Cleopas Moses; Secretary to the state Government, Kemela Okara; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson; House of Representative member and senatorial candidate, Douye Diri, among others.

    They lamented the elections in Bassambiri and some wards in Southern Ijaw were marred by violence, saying they failed the test of credibility and procedure established by the commission.

    They complained the exercise in Nembe-Bassambiri was completely marred by violence and shootings alleging that opposition leaders in the area kidnapped some INEC officials and forced them to write the results.

    They insisted that elections did not take place in Bassambiri and urged the commission to reject results that gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in the area including Southern Ijaw.

    In the results, the APC candidate for Brass -Nembe Federal Constituency, Israel Sunny-Goli reportedly won the candidate of the PDP, Marie Ebikake while APC Preye Oseke was said to have won the Speaker, Kombowei Benson, in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency.

    But the SSG, Kemela Okara, while reporting the alleged irregularities in the local government areas to INEC, said there was no election in the seven wards in Bassambiri adding the results for the wards were written by APC leaders.

    Okara said a similar incident happened in Southern Ijaw wards 4, 12 and 16 and called on the commission to cancel the results and conduct fresh elections in the affected areas.

    He alleged that soldiers were deployed in the affected areas to subvert the will of the people in connivance with APC leaders.

    He said: “We want INEC to do the right thing. Your guidelines should guide everything.

    “We have told you clearly that those guidelines were not enforced and that was why we came out.

    “So, we trust that you will escalate the matters that had been raised. We expect them to be properly addressed so that we can resolve this matter in all those areas in Southern Ijaw and Nembe.

    “Seven wards in Bassambiri and Southern Ijaw Ward 4, 12 and 16 were affected. Those results should be cancelled.

    “We are ready to vote and we are confident that if given a chance to vote, we will test our popularity.

    “In this case it is not acceptable that some people deem it fit to use military to subvert the will of the people”.

    Reacting to their grievances, Sampson said INEC would accept results that failed to conform with the established standard of the commission.

    He said: “I want to assure you that INEC Bayelsa State is a law-abiding institution. Our Abuja office is aware of every decision that we take here.

    “I am in charge of INEC situation room as the administrative secretary and I report every single incident that happens to the chairman directly.

    “As I leave here I am going to escalate this report to the chairman and I am sure he will give his directive on the next step to take.

    “There are some results from presiding offices in some of the wards you are talking about.

    “We are processing them. I have minuted it to the electoral officer in charge of those local governments and I have asked them to escalate it to the collation officer in line with our guidelines.

    “It is only when that is done and INEC has come to announce the results officially, that is when you will know whether what we have done is in line with the principles and guidelines concerning this election or not.

    “Lives have been lost. My EOs and officers were also held hostage. I know what the military did to rescue them. Give us the opportunity to do the right thing. Don’t take laws into your hand”.

  • IG orders probe of assault on DCP in Bayelsa

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered assessment of the alleged assault on a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) by suspected political thugs in Twon Brass, Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bayelsa State Command, Butswat Asinim, said the IG sent a high-powered delegation headed by the Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG), Fredrick Lekanu, to probe the incident.

    He said the IG asked the team to unveil the identities of persons connected to the incident, arrest and prosecute them.

    Butswat said: “On 24th February 2019, political thugs numbering over four hundred stormed the Government Jetty at Brass Island and assaulted a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who was deployed to supervise the elections in Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

    “This conduct is viewed as a gross affront to the constituted authority and the laws of the land.

    “The DIG, while addressing senior officers at the Bayelsa State Police Command condemned the act in its entirety and in line with the instructions of the Inspector general of Police, ordered for the identification, arrest and prosecution of all those connected, no matter how remote, their proxies and sponsors.

    “The DIG, stated that the IGP was miffed by the the ugly incident, but appreciates the conduct displayed by the officers in the face of obvious provocation.

    “DIG Fredrick Lakanu fdc, also ordered for reinforcement of officers to flash points areas in the State to forestall any break down of law and order and urge the members of the public to be law abiding and not to be tempted to take the laws into their hands”.

  • IYC seeks cancellation of results in Bayelsa

    The Ijaw Youth Council ( IYC ) Worldwide has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel results in some parts of Bayelsa State.

    The Ijaw group told INEC that the Ijaws in Nembe-Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area were denied their rights to vote alleging that electoral materials meant for the area were hijacked by thugs in connivance with security agencies.

    The Secretary-General, IYC, Alfred Kemepado, said violence was unleashed on the Ijaw communities adding that an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was kidnapped by the thugs, who frustrated voting in the area.

    Describing the general scenario as monumental shame, Kemepado said it was shocking that some results emerged from Nembe- Bassambiri without voting and use of card readers.

    He wondered why violence was the order of the day in an era elections could only be adjudged free and fair through the use of PVCs and card readers.

    He said: “It is shocking in this era of card readers and personal voter’s cards (PVCs), where individuals are encouraged to vote for candidates of their choice that people can still primitively resort to terrorising and carting away both personnel and materials.

    “We earlier warned that security agencies, especially the Nigerian Military were colluding with political thugs to perpetuate this fraud and jungle politics in the Niger Delta. We also said that they should be called to order by the Chief of Army staff”.

    Kemepado alleged that the military aided political thugs to steal electoral materials in Bassambiri and to destroy already cast votes in Agbere and other Ijaw territories like Abonema in Rivers State.

    He said: We call on INEC to cancel the election in these areas with obvious malpractice and reschedule elections that will ensure free and fair process only.

    “Furthermore, whoever, including the Nigerian Military that has unjustly killed our citizens in the guise of processing elections would be brought to justice nationally and internationally.

    ‘We have reports of the murder of innocent citizens in the southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State and some parts of Rivers State to deepen their intimidation of Ijaw people.

    “The intimidation of Ijaw people has never worked from the times of the colonial masters and will never work no matter how it comes”.

  • SAHCO, Bayelsa sign airport ground handling MoU

    Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bayelsa State government to be the official ground handling provider in the Bayelsa International Airport.

    SAHCO was chosen to be the only aviation Ground Handling company to cater for passenger handling services, ramp handling, cargo and warehousing amongst other aviation Ground Handling activities in the new airport because of its safe, speedy and efficient services.

    SAHCO has therefore made history as the first aviation Ground Handler to handle airlines in the new International airport which is built to cater for both international and domestic airline operators.

    Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC, a fully indigenous ground handling company, divested some of its shares to the Nigerian Public in an Initial Public Offer (IPO) concluded on the 9th of January 2019.

    With intense manpower trainings, excellent customer services and investments in state-of-the-art aviation ground handling equipment the company is daily exceeding customer expectations, also with the recent expansion of its operations to Ibadan Airport.

    SAHCO, incorporated as an Aviation Ground Handling Service provider under the Nigerian Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990, is the reference point to the birth of a successful flight within the Nigerian Aviation Sector, providing services in Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo Handling and Warehousing, Aviation Security, Baggage Reconciliation, Crew Bus and Executive Lounge Services and other related Ground Handling Services in all Nigerian commercial airports.

  • Police parade 63 suspects over pre-electoral violence in A’Ibom

    …..recovers stolen PVCs

     

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Monday paraded 63 suspected political thugs.

    Also paraded were suspects arrested in connection with the pre-election violence in Obot-Akara local Government area where two persons were killed and thirteen vehicles burnt on Saturday.

    The suspects were allegedly hired from Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo States, it was learnt.

    Recovered from the suspects are one locally-made short gun, 25 live cartridges, two machetes, charms of different types, a knife, phones and human hairs and two axes, PCVs were some of the items recovered from the suspects.

    State police commissioner, Bashir Makama while parading the suspects at the state police command, Uyo, said a total of 41 of them who claimed to be observers on monitoring mission for the election were
    arrested on Friday, February 15th at Angellyne hotel in Uyo, without INEC identification number and could not give proper identity of themselves.

    Makama who was represented at the briefing by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, said 20 other suspects were arrested on the same day, February 15th at Ukanafun Local Government Area.

    Read Also: Political thugs set 30 buildings on fire in Ebonyi

    The CP said the suspects were allegedly brought in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State by one Uduak Dick, on the pretext of attending the burial ceremony of a Lance Corporal in the Nigerian Army, one Udo Essien.

    Makama said some suspects on February 13th set ablaze INEC office at Eastern Obolo Local Government Area but the timely intervention by the police saved the office and all the materials meant for the election.

    The Commissioner added that one Anietie Peters who hails from Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area was arrested on Friday in possession of 34 Permanent Voter Cards while one Ayaya Bassey and Asequo Ebio, arrested from Ikot-Ekpene Local government Area had confessed to bepolitical thugs hired by a politician from Cross River state.

    He said the Command on February 12th also killed two suspected killersof one Anthony Ikechuwu, a pharmacist who was shot dead by thehoodlums at St. Michael Primary School Abak, Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Makama who said the victim’s Lexus Jeep with registration number, AKD 850 has been recovered, adding that the suspects were traced to their hideout in Aba, Abia state. They were killed in a gunduel with members of SARS from Akwa Ibom State, while a locally made revolver pistol with four live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.

    Makama used the occasion to warn politicians in the state to play by the rules and advised their supporters to conduct themselves or risk arrest by the police.

    “Let me use this opportunity to call on politicians to play the game based on the rules. Let me assure you that the non-partisan nature of the police in Akwa Ibom State will not change, we will remain
    apolitical, neutral and committed to free, fair and credible elections. We will at all times act professionally based on International best practices” Makama said.

    One of the forty-one arrested suspects, Okoroda Ken from Bayelsa state said they were arrested in Angellyne hotel by 3am on Friday, 15th February, 2019 where they lounged, adding that they were yet to reach their coordinator who booked the hotel for them.

    He said, “We all submitted our passport to Society for Advancement for Credible Leadership and Observation. This organisation is registered and credited by INEC. Since we submitted our passport, we were told our names were submitted to INEC and that we will likely monitor the election in Uyo.

    “We came on Thursday to confirm whether our names were there or not. We were in the Angellyne hotel booked for us by the Coordinator of the group, Berefa Bedfon. When we were arrested, all our phones were taken from us and we have not been able to contact anyone. INEC can prove if our names have been registered with them”.

  • Dickson: Nigeria heading for constitutional crisis if…

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson on Monday warned of a looming major constitutional crisis if the elections failed to hold as rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Dickson, who briefed journalists in Government House, Yenagoa, said there was a need for all stakeholders to work collectively to avert the crisis.

    To avert looming succession crisis, Dickson suggested President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately convened an expanded emergency meeting of the National Council of State.

    He said the meeting should have the service chiefs, INEC, political party leaders and their candidates and other major stakeholders in attendance.

    He said the stakeholders in the meeting should resolve on the new date for the postponed elections, adding that INEC was wrong to have unilaterally chosen next Saturday for the rescheduled poll.

    He cautioned leaders against name-calling, appealing to them to work in the interest of the country to avoid plunging Nigeria into avoidable succession crisis.

    He said it was unpatriotic for anyone to be calling for the removal of the INEC chairman, adding the country would be on a crossroad if two critical institutions of INEC and the Supreme Court were undergoing crisis at the same time.

    According to the governor: “This postponement belittled our country. It doesn’t show us as a serious country. Unless all stakeholders drop the habit of name-calling and claiming to be rights, we are moving close to a major constitutional crisis.

    “If anything should go wrong, we will have a full blown crisis; crisis of succession at a time the Supreme Court is also undergoing crisis.

    “We should not call for the removal of the INEC chairman. If INEC is in crisis and the Supreme Court is crisis I don’t know where we are headed.

    “I call on President Muhammadu Buhari as the leader of the country to convene an emergency meeting of the National Council of states to enable service chiefs and the INEC brief stakeholders on their preparations.

    “The meeting should involve the political party chairmen with the presidential candidates to examine the developing scenario which may plung our country into crisis. I believe that if we all sit down and know the circumstances, we should agree on a new date.

    “I disagree with INEC unilateral announcement of Saturday as a new date. I do not believe that all the challenges that INEC has can be resolved within six days.

    “A more sensible approach is needed. Our nation cannot afford another postponement”.

    The governor recalled that few hours to the postponed elections, Bayelsa did not have ballot papers for Presidential elections and stamps to authenticate votes.

    “Even now I am told there are issues of unserialised ballot papers”, he said adding that stakeholders expected customization of electoral materials.

    Read Also: Dickson: APC leaders don’t want me to receive Buhari

    The governor further commended Buhari for calling on security agencies to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers during the election.

    He said by such presidential directive, security agencies should no longer be encumbered from doing their jobs without fear or favour.

    He also disagreed with INEC on suspension of campaigns saying that his party would continue to engage the people in accordance with the established law of the land.

  • Two die, others injured as Bayelsa community loots amnesty complex

    At least one person was killed and many others injured at the weekend when community members broke into an office complex belonging to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The shocking invasion and raid were reportedly carried out by residents of Orubiri, a host community of the amnesty yard located in Boro Town, which was named after the late Ijaw hero, Isaac Adaka Boro.

    One of the invaders said to have asthmatic condition was reportedly choked to death in one of the warehouses while a baby brought into the complex by a woman was said to have died in the ensuing stampede.

    The Amnesty Office built the expansive yard comprising many blocks of storey buildings to act as a liaison office for coordination of amnesty issues in the Niger Delta region, including storage and distribution of starter packs to beneficiaries.

    But investigations revealed members of the host community, numbering over 1,000, invaded the complex, broke into all the offices and looted equipment and starter packs worth billions of naira.

    The invaders were said to have overpowered a few army operatives stationed at the entrance, pushed down the gate and engaged in free-for-all stealing of items.

    Efforts of the security operatives to stop them by shooting in the air were said to have proved abortive because of the high number of the invaders.

    It was gathered that youths and women participated in the looting and ensured that equipment bought for persons trained for different skills was carted away.

    The marauders were said to have stolen everything including installed air-conditioners, furniture and fittings and attempted to remove electric wires.

    An employee of the amnesty office, who spoke in confidence, said the looting started early Tuesday morning last week adding that the equipment carted away was meant for beneficiaries from impacted communities in other states.

    He said the Coordinator of PAP, Prof. Charles Dokubo, inaugurated the distribution of the items in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Warri, Delta State and Orubiri, the host community in Bayelsa.

    He said following the inauguration, about 500 beneficiaries of the host communities got their items without crisis.

    “But we were surprised that the next day youths and women from the same host communities numbering over 1000 assembled at the entrance of the complex and demanded their share of the items.

    “We explained to them that the items were meant for impacted communities in various states. They didn’t listen. They rather insisted that the items must be given to them.

    “Most of them started calling people from other communities and before we knew it, the entrance was filled up. The person in charge of the place tried to call for security reinforcement.

    “Even when they came, there was nothing the security operatives could do. The people pulled down the gate and started looting the items in the warehouses. They engaged in the looting overnight till the next morning,” he said.

    The source added that Dokubo visited the place and expressed anger at the destruction of the complex, wondering why the host community would engage in damaging properties under their care.

    The source said: “When the coordinator left, the people still besieged the complex. It was worse that night.

    “Some of us were forced to flee because our lives were under threat. Some of the employees who could not escape were attacked.

    “The people stole all the properties of our employees and even removed trousers from their waists. They broke into the administrative blocks and removed all the items there.

    “They removed air-conditioners including toilet seaters. They are still looting. They are even trying to steal cables in the ground”.

    The source said the office had video recordings of the invasion describing the area as security risk and called on law enforcement agencies to stop what he described as madness.

    He added that an official report of the incident had been sent to the amnesty office in Abuja saying the office would take a final decision on the matter.