Apathy, low turnout mar Bayelsa council polls

Voters in Bayelsa State on Saturday trooped to various polling units to elect chairmen for the eight local government areas and councillors for the 155 wards.

In Yenagoa, the state capital, Ogbia, Nembe, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama, and Ekeremor LGA, the exercise was peaceful though many residents and voters shunned the exercise.

Some residents claimed they were not aware of the elections while others took advantage of the partial restrictions of movement to go ahead with their normal routine businesses.

There were reports of alleged hijack of electoral materials in about five wards in Sagbama LGA with party agents alleging that the materials for Wards 11, 14, 7, 13 and 6 were seized.

Governor Douye Diri expressed satisfaction with the exercise shortly after casting his vote with wife, Dr Gloria, at his Kalamaowei Wari Unit 4 ward 6 in Sampou community,

Diri commended the state independent electoral commission for the organisation of the election.

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The Governor said: “You can see that the exercise is peaceful here and it was seamless and the voting process was seamless and I think this is the way it is in every other units and wards and we expect a peaceful and successful council elections will usher in a new leadership in the local government.

“My optimism is that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will emerge victorious in the 105 wards of the eight local government areas as it was the only party with wide acceptance and vigorously campaigned across the state ahead of the election.

“PDP enjoys the support of the people and judging from the outcome of the November 11, 2023 governorship election, our party will still take the upper hand.

“As you have seen, the voting process was peaceful and seamless and l think if this is the way it is in every other unit and ward, then we expect a peaceful and successful local government election to usher in a new leadership at the third tier of government.

“So far, we are very pleased that there is no report of security breach across the state. At the last security council meeting, l charged the security agencies to be part of this electoral process and to ensure that security of the state was not breached.”

Responding to a question on why the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state did not participate in the election, Diri said only the faction led by Dennis Otiotio under the control of Chief Timipre Sylva boycotted the poll and that the party had more than one faction.

He added that the reason for their action was best known to them.

Also speaking after casting his vote at Ofoni Primary School, Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewrudjakpo, while expressing the confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party will sweep the polls, however, pointed out that the BYSIEC must improve on late arrival of materials.

He said: “You can see, the community has just gathered, the materials have just arrived. The only criticism is that the materials are arriving a little bit late and that is the only criticism I have for BYSIEC as far as these issues are concerned. I believe they will learn their ropes. It is a gradual process, it is a new curves they are going into and I believe they will improve on it.

“But for sure, you know that Ofoni is PDP and the whole of Sagbama is PDP. You are also aware that in the last governorship election, it is only in Sagbama that APC did not get up to 25 per cent. So we don’t expect anything different from that. The voting will be going on, I just cast my vote, the process is going on fairly, squarely and transparently.

“The turnout will be massive, the materials have just arrived. It is a local election and politics is more local. Emotions and sentiment are high than the governorship election. Let them come out enmass and support their councilors and the chairmanship candidate.

“PDP is winning all the eight seats and we are sure of winning at least hundred and three councilorship votes. We may give one or two to other parties depending on what the strength of the other people are. But in Ofoni, it is a no go area for other party.

Bayelsa Speaker Abraham Ingobere, commended voters in Brass Local Government Area for their peaceful and orderly conduct.

Responding to questions from journalists shortly after casting his vote at Unit 3 of Ward 10 in Sangana, the Speaker said the process was hitch-free and satisfactory.