9th January, 2016
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Photo: Idowu Ogunleye
The rerun governorship election in Bayelsa State Saturday witnessed a large turn out of voters, even as there were skirmishes in few places..
Election materials arrived as early as 8am. Most voters started waiting at their various polling units with election materials arriving as scheduled.
In Ammasoma, Ogbia, Sagbama and Nembe election materials also arrived early with accreditation and voting completed before the 2pm scheduled for voting.
Accreditation and voting were delayed in other areas including Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
Also in some areas of Ogbia, Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw people waited patiently for the arrival of election materials, while others trooped out early and completed the process of voting.
In Okodi ward in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, after the arrival of election materials voting commenced immediately.
At Otakeme and Edema communities of Ogbia, election materials arrived late and tension gripped voters due to the delay.
At the home community of the Bayelsa State Speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson in Kokorosei and two others in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the materials arrived early and voting commenced as scheduled.
Voters in the late Oronto Douglas Community of Okoroba in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and the late former Governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha raised alarm over the hijack of election materials meant for their unit by thugs.
According to the communities, though only one unit was canceled in Okoroba community, the materials for the unit identified as Ward 11, Unit 13 were hijacked at the point of distribution by political thugs in the presence of security agents and the police.
An indigene of the community, Barrister Gift Douglas, confirmed that the thugs also attacked and beat to stupor a traditional Chief, Etulankimor Douglas Eteli, in front of the DPO in Nembe Bassabiri.
In Amassoma, Mr. Bonny Aya, Coordinator of Youths Volunteer accused APC of snatching ballot boxes, but said he was sure of victory by PDP.
There was pandemonium in Ekeremor Community following the alleged invasion of the voting venue by armed men led by a military officer who snatched election materials in the area.
The military officer, who is described as an officer with rank of a Major, was alleged to have led armed youths to the area.
The aide to Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Comrade Preye Amba, confirmed that the Military officer was identified as a serving military personnel attached to the 5 Battalion of the Operation Pulo Shield in Bayelsa.
According to Amba, “the PDP, in concert with one Major Umar from 5 battalion Warri came to carry away electoral materials from Ekeremor to Egbema Angalabiri. We have on record that the said Major is on the pay roll of a known ex-militant leader bent on bringing down the APC in Bayelsa state.
“We call on the military authorities to investigate the role of the said Major because he took away the materials without any other escort provided either by the police or the DSS.”
The Governorship election in Ekeowe and Famgbe communities of Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa Local Government areas of Bayelsa State delayed due to sporadic shooting and security threats by armed thugs in the area.
In Famgbe community, armed men invaded venue of voting and scared away the voters with sporadic shooting.
The police and Senator Lokpobiri debunked the alleged killing of soldiers and civilians in Ekeremor.
The Police through the spokesman of the State Police Command, Asimin Butswat described the report as false.
The Minister through his aide, said though the claim has been traced to some PDP apologists, adding that election in Ekeremor was peaceful, orderly and without violence.
Lokpobiri, who was accredited cast his vote at his ward 8 polling unit 2 at about 12:10pm peace.
Collation of result was ongoing at the time of this report.