Despite allegation by the opposition parties against members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) of thumb-printing and rigging of last Saturday council election in Bayelsa the PDP has won all the chairmanship seats in the state.
Narrating his ideal during the election, Mr. Atonye Thomas Livingstone a councillorship candidate of Accord Party in ward 1 Nembe LGA of Bayelsa State while in a chat with journalists alleged that he saw some PDP members thumb printing electoral materials in a corner, when they sited him and his colleagues they bounce on them and collected his handset, “ I reported the matter to a DPO, when we arrive at the scene of the incident, they harassed the DPO stressing that he cannot do anything to them because they are in charge and the DPO left them” on his next line of action, Mr. Livingstone said he would not go to court because the court cannot do anything since it was the PDP administration that appointed them adding that they will not take the matter seriously rather it is God that will intervene in the matter.
Similarly, the chairman of the Accord party in Bayelsa State, Mr. Ekukia Nweye described the election as election characterized by malpractice and intimidation of oppositions by the People Democratic Party.
According to him, members of the ruling party did not allow members of the opposition Parties to exercise their franchise.
Announcing the result of the Bayelsa council election which was reportedly greeted with low turn out of voters, the chairman of the Bayelsa Stat Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Chief Blessing Izagara said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the eight chairmanship seats in Bayelsa State but the commission was yet to gather the result for the councillorship fro the 105 of the wards in Bayelsa State at the time of filing this report.
He disclosed that in Brass LGA, Mr. Obed Andi of PDP scored 37,464 votes peremote Orlando of APC 422 at Ekeremo council Area, Mr. Tobiye Billy PDP scored 59,553 votes to win the chairmanship seat, Mr. Pedeke Franlin 275, Mr. Agawa Park 201, Mr. Nimin Palma 174. Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Mr. Gbaranbiri Iselema of PDP won with 1,937 votes, Baloyabi Patrick of ANPP scored 959 votes.
The result so far announced has it that in Nembe LGA that PDP candidates, Mr. Emina Benneth got 57,787 votes, Mr. Ibuami Jonathan of ACN 1,275, Mr. Nyeyen Mathias of Accord party got 691 votes.
At Ogbia LGA there was no voting as Mr. Aba Richard was unopposed. In Sagama LGA, there was no opposing candidate, Mr. Willy Jerry of PDP scored 56,737 votes as the electorate insisted on voting even in the absent of the opposition.
In southern Ijaw council area, Mr. Remember Ogbe of PDP got 120,189 votes, Mr. Ghadafi Okiakpe of ACN 1359 votes, Mr. Okiyike Genesis of ANPP 167 votes.
In Yenagoa LGA Mr. Ben Chubby of PDP won with 111,391 votes while Mr. Solomon Ossai of PPA scored 225.
The chairman further said that the commission was unable to conduct elections in ward 4 at Brass LGA and that it would be conducted within seven days.
Meanwhile, some electorates who spoke on the conduct of the election described it as peaceful, free and fair election despite low turn out.
According to HRM King Edmond Dakuro the former Minister for Petroleum and National Resources said the election was peaceful, free and fair.
He called on whosever emerged as chairman in the Nembe LGA to improve on electricity and infrastructural development.
Chief Dakuro who casted his vote in 1215pm Nembe LGA advised the incoming chairman to represent his people and embark on meaningful projects including the abandoned once.
Miss Ada Ogbotobo a PDP councillorship candidate in ward 1 Nembe LGA described the election as peaceful, fair expressing confidence that she will win at the end of the election and assured his people of good representation.
Mr. Embasi the organizing secretary PDP in Bayelsa State described the election as free and fair.
According to him the materials arrived early and all the electorates voted saying nobody was intimidated as speculated adding that any opposition who fail in the election should join the PDP.###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
