Friday, 29 April 2011
The Bayelsa chapters of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Labour Party(LP) have demanded for the cancellation of Tuesday’s rescheduled Bayelsa Central Senatorial District election over allegations of wide-spread irregularities and intimidation by security agents.
In two separate protest letters which were submitted to the state INEC REC, Engr. Edwin Nwatarali Wednesday in Yenagoa and copies made available to the newsmen, the two parties alleged that election results from the various polling units were not counter signed by its polling agents and coordinators.
The ANPP Protest letter, which was signed by the party’s state chairman, Mr. Ayebide Fatiede and National Vice-Chairman, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa, the ANPP also alleged that security agents chased away polling agents from voting centres in Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw Ward 6, when electoral materials arrived.
The letter reads in part: “Our investigation revealed that PDP masterminded and manipulated the elections and there were no free, fair and credible elections, hence our Agents refused to counter-sign the election as a protest and demand for cancellation of the entire elections”.
The Party faulted the alleged movement of result sheets from Southern Ijaw LGA to the INEC headquarters, arguing that going by INEC regulations, the results ought to be taken the LGA collation centre at the Yenagoa Council Hall for onward announcement.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council were taken to INEC headquarters, hidden there all this while instead of the collation centre contrary to INEC guidelines, and only later came out with a cooked version of all the results and taken to the collation centre”, the party posited.
The ANPP added that “in view of the obvious circumstances, we demand that the results of the senatorial elections of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District concluded on the 26th of April 2011 be cancelled and a rerun election ordered without delay for the sake of justice and fairness”.
our correspondent however reports that INEC in the state had gone ahead to announce the result, where incumbent Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP was return as winner, polling a total of 106,279 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief Gospel Kpokpowei of the Labour Party.
The result which was announced at about 5.20pm by the INEC Returning Officer for the Bayelsa Central District, Dr. Bina Odogu, saw Chief Rufus Abadi of the ACN trailing third with 5,116, while Chief Pere Ajuwa of the ANPP came a distance fourth with 3,516 votes.
But INEC declaration of the result was greeted by protests by both the ANPP and the LP, as both parties objected to the autenticity of the of the results announced by the electoral commission. Collation Agents of the two parties at the collation centre refused to sign the final result before it was announced by the INEC Returning Officer.
Chief Paul Frank-Oputu and Chief Stanley Suobo, Collation Agents for the ANPP and Labour Parties respectively told newsmen that they cannot signed the results because INEC had erred by going ahead to announce the result without recourse to the petitions to the commission from the parties.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council area were cooked up before being presented to us here. Why should results be taken to INEC office before coming to the original collation centres? We are not ignorant of the laid down rules. We are rejecting this result, because our petition is on their table”, Suobo said.
While Frank-Oputu described the result announced by INEC as “a fraudulent result”, as according to him, “what INEC is presenting to us is not a reflection of the peoples’ vote. This is not a true reflection of the actual votes at the various polling units. We will continue to reject it till our petition is treated and justice prevailed”.
In his response, National Vice-chairman of the ANPP, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa noted that “By going ahead to announce the result of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, INEC had gone contrary to its electoral guidelines”.
“We submitted a petition to the commission at about 1.pm, and now they are going ahead to announce the result of an election that a petition has been deposed already. This is wrong; we will pursue this injustice to the end”.
“It is very wrong because the INEC guidelines stated that when a petition is received, the commission should not announce the result, pending investigations into the allegations contained in the petition. This is our argument”, Opuakpa stated.
When contacted, the Bayelsa INEC Public Affairs Officer, Mrs. Priscilla Imoudu-Sule, confirmed that the commission had received the result of the elections into the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, after it had been announced by the Returning Officer.
On the petitions of the two opposition parties, the ANPP and the LP, Imoudu –Sule stated that for any petition submitted to INEC in relation to an election, the commission would investigate the allegations contained and review the entire election process.
She however declined to comment on the argument of the opposition parties that INEC erred by going ahead to announce the result, without recourse to the petitions on its table.
In two separate protest letters which were submitted to the state INEC REC, Engr. Edwin Nwatarali Wednesday in Yenagoa and copies made available to the newsmen, the two parties alleged that election results from the various polling units were not counter signed by its polling agents and coordinators.
The ANPP Protest letter, which was signed by the party’s state chairman, Mr. Ayebide Fatiede and National Vice-Chairman, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa, the ANPP also alleged that security agents chased away polling agents from voting centres in Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw Ward 6, when electoral materials arrived.
The letter reads in part: “Our investigation revealed that PDP masterminded and manipulated the elections and there were no free, fair and credible elections, hence our Agents refused to counter-sign the election as a protest and demand for cancellation of the entire elections”.
The Party faulted the alleged movement of result sheets from Southern Ijaw LGA to the INEC headquarters, arguing that going by INEC regulations, the results ought to be taken the LGA collation centre at the Yenagoa Council Hall for onward announcement.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council were taken to INEC headquarters, hidden there all this while instead of the collation centre contrary to INEC guidelines, and only later came out with a cooked version of all the results and taken to the collation centre”, the party posited.
The ANPP added that “in view of the obvious circumstances, we demand that the results of the senatorial elections of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District concluded on the 26th of April 2011 be cancelled and a rerun election ordered without delay for the sake of justice and fairness”.
our correspondent however reports that INEC in the state had gone ahead to announce the result, where incumbent Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP was return as winner, polling a total of 106,279 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief Gospel Kpokpowei of the Labour Party.
The result which was announced at about 5.20pm by the INEC Returning Officer for the Bayelsa Central District, Dr. Bina Odogu, saw Chief Rufus Abadi of the ACN trailing third with 5,116, while Chief Pere Ajuwa of the ANPP came a distance fourth with 3,516 votes.
But INEC declaration of the result was greeted by protests by both the ANPP and the LP, as both parties objected to the autenticity of the of the results announced by the electoral commission. Collation Agents of the two parties at the collation centre refused to sign the final result before it was announced by the INEC Returning Officer.
Chief Paul Frank-Oputu and Chief Stanley Suobo, Collation Agents for the ANPP and Labour Parties respectively told newsmen that they cannot signed the results because INEC had erred by going ahead to announce the result without recourse to the petitions to the commission from the parties.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council area were cooked up before being presented to us here. Why should results be taken to INEC office before coming to the original collation centres? We are not ignorant of the laid down rules. We are rejecting this result, because our petition is on their table”, Suobo said.
While Frank-Oputu described the result announced by INEC as “a fraudulent result”, as according to him, “what INEC is presenting to us is not a reflection of the peoples’ vote. This is not a true reflection of the actual votes at the various polling units. We will continue to reject it till our petition is treated and justice prevailed”.
In his response, National Vice-chairman of the ANPP, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa noted that “By going ahead to announce the result of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, INEC had gone contrary to its electoral guidelines”.
“We submitted a petition to the commission at about 1.pm, and now they are going ahead to announce the result of an election that a petition has been deposed already. This is wrong; we will pursue this injustice to the end”.
“It is very wrong because the INEC guidelines stated that when a petition is received, the commission should not announce the result, pending investigations into the allegations contained in the petition. This is our argument”, Opuakpa stated.
When contacted, the Bayelsa INEC Public Affairs Officer, Mrs. Priscilla Imoudu-Sule, confirmed that the commission had received the result of the elections into the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, after it had been announced by the Returning Officer.
On the petitions of the two opposition parties, the ANPP and the LP, Imoudu –Sule stated that for any petition submitted to INEC in relation to an election, the commission would investigate the allegations contained and review the entire election process.
She however declined to comment on the argument of the opposition parties that INEC erred by going ahead to announce the result, without recourse to the petitions on its table.
An aide to the Bayelsa state House of Assembly speaker, Mr. Goodluck Obodo Osita, was yesterday arrested for allegedly possessing electoral materials during the exercise in the state, just as Twenty four others were arrested by the state police command including six mobile police.
Obodo who was apprehended by other opposition party supporters in the area, confessed been sent by the speaker of the Bayelsa state house of Assembly, Hon. Nestor Binabo representing Sagbama constituency 2.
The speaker was also accused of intimidating the whole community with over five hundred armed youths at all polling unit with the connivance of security agents and induced youth corpers.
The victim who was detained by the men of the state security service (SSS) with ballot box, corpers uniform, bank cheque and other electoral materials disclosed that he was working under the instructions of the speaker to carry out electoral fraud, adding that the corpers whose uniform and identity was with him had absconded.
The Bayelsa state Commissioner of police, Mr. Adeshina Shinaba confirmed the arrest and stated that those arrested will be prosecuted for their involvement in the electoral fraud.
One of the incidents that happened at the metropolis, Opolo area, unit 04, Epie 2 ward 5, the unit of a sitting senator representing the central district in the state, Senator Emmanuel Pauker, showed the kind of politics in the state by the ruling party that constitutes more fraud than a revolution in the state.
Pauker was allegedly accused of inducing the corpers at the unit and others at the Biogolo unit 16 and 17 under the same ward, the security agent in charge, inspector W.A Ukwenya and electorate in the area, meanwhile his supporters almost clamp down on BOF’s correspondent who was a camera at the scene.
The Twenty four House of Assembly constituency elections and the re-scheduled Bayelsa central senatorial district elections in the state yesterday was reportedly marred with irregularities, just as youths and other aggrieved parties faithful in the state condemned the just concluded exercise.
A group of aggrieved youth numbering over two hundred carrying placards protesting in the state from their constituency in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local government area of the state with the Labour Party T-shirt trouped the state INEC office in Yenagoa.
The aggrieved group was led by the candidate vying to represent Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 1 under the Labour Party, Hon. Tonye Isenah Emmanuel, stated that despite the glamour by Nigerians to witness a credible election in the country some disgruntled elements in the ruling party of state has resolved to be involved in malpractice.
Isenah mentioned that the returning officer of the ward was attacked by members of the People’s Democratic party supporters when they perceived that they had almost lost the constituency seat to his favour, adding that higher stalwarts of the party are putting pressure on INEC to disapprove his victory and announce the result inconclusive.
According to the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour party in the state, Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe, who expressed dissatisfaction over mass irregularities in the electoral process of the state, when he casted his vote at about 12.38pm at unit 14 of the Kolokuma/Opokuma ward 7, maintained that Bayelsans should note that those primitive times of electoral fraud, stuffing and hijacking of ballot boxes are outdated.
He admonished Bayelsans to join the rest of the world to do the right thing, adding that times when electoral ballot papers are hijacked and materials destroyed by desperate politicians are past rather electorate should be allowed to vote in their leaders sincerely and transparently.
On the issue of re-schedule senatorial election, he stated that “ the fundamental issue was that there was fraud, people were alleged to have carried ballot box to their home to stuff in thumb print ballot papers, that’s aberration and it shouldn’t happened, its an enactment of negative issue and we ensure that INEC is up to the task to maintain a hitch free process.
The facts that most local communities are not easily accessed does not give any body the privilege to seize the franchise of the people to his own domain and if they try it again we will announce it, we still that commissioners in that area are still carrying out the same act which shows no respect for Mr. President’s one man one vote mantra.
Obodo who was apprehended by other opposition party supporters in the area, confessed been sent by the speaker of the Bayelsa state house of Assembly, Hon. Nestor Binabo representing Sagbama constituency 2.
The speaker was also accused of intimidating the whole community with over five hundred armed youths at all polling unit with the connivance of security agents and induced youth corpers.
The victim who was detained by the men of the state security service (SSS) with ballot box, corpers uniform, bank cheque and other electoral materials disclosed that he was working under the instructions of the speaker to carry out electoral fraud, adding that the corpers whose uniform and identity was with him had absconded.
The Bayelsa state Commissioner of police, Mr. Adeshina Shinaba confirmed the arrest and stated that those arrested will be prosecuted for their involvement in the electoral fraud.
One of the incidents that happened at the metropolis, Opolo area, unit 04, Epie 2 ward 5, the unit of a sitting senator representing the central district in the state, Senator Emmanuel Pauker, showed the kind of politics in the state by the ruling party that constitutes more fraud than a revolution in the state.
Pauker was allegedly accused of inducing the corpers at the unit and others at the Biogolo unit 16 and 17 under the same ward, the security agent in charge, inspector W.A Ukwenya and electorate in the area, meanwhile his supporters almost clamp down on BOF’s correspondent who was a camera at the scene.
The Twenty four House of Assembly constituency elections and the re-scheduled Bayelsa central senatorial district elections in the state yesterday was reportedly marred with irregularities, just as youths and other aggrieved parties faithful in the state condemned the just concluded exercise.
A group of aggrieved youth numbering over two hundred carrying placards protesting in the state from their constituency in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local government area of the state with the Labour Party T-shirt trouped the state INEC office in Yenagoa.
The aggrieved group was led by the candidate vying to represent Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 1 under the Labour Party, Hon. Tonye Isenah Emmanuel, stated that despite the glamour by Nigerians to witness a credible election in the country some disgruntled elements in the ruling party of state has resolved to be involved in malpractice.
Isenah mentioned that the returning officer of the ward was attacked by members of the People’s Democratic party supporters when they perceived that they had almost lost the constituency seat to his favour, adding that higher stalwarts of the party are putting pressure on INEC to disapprove his victory and announce the result inconclusive.
According to the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour party in the state, Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe, who expressed dissatisfaction over mass irregularities in the electoral process of the state, when he casted his vote at about 12.38pm at unit 14 of the Kolokuma/Opokuma ward 7, maintained that Bayelsans should note that those primitive times of electoral fraud, stuffing and hijacking of ballot boxes are outdated.
He admonished Bayelsans to join the rest of the world to do the right thing, adding that times when electoral ballot papers are hijacked and materials destroyed by desperate politicians are past rather electorate should be allowed to vote in their leaders sincerely and transparently.
On the issue of re-schedule senatorial election, he stated that “ the fundamental issue was that there was fraud, people were alleged to have carried ballot box to their home to stuff in thumb print ballot papers, that’s aberration and it shouldn’t happened, its an enactment of negative issue and we ensure that INEC is up to the task to maintain a hitch free process.
The facts that most local communities are not easily accessed does not give any body the privilege to seize the franchise of the people to his own domain and if they try it again we will announce it, we still that commissioners in that area are still carrying out the same act which shows no respect for Mr. President’s one man one vote mantra.
Friday, 15 April 2011
While the verdict in most parts of the country has been good, the situation calls for concern considering the violence resulting in loss of human lives, snatching of ballot boxes, intimidation of opponents and use of money to induce voters as well as the use of security agencies such as the army, police and others to perpetrate one of the worst cases of election malpractice in the National Assembly elections.
Statistics show that out of 117 cases of ballot-snatching nationwide, Bayelsa has 23, the highest number of cases, four deaths including the three that died on April 2 and four persons injured. A number of election-triggered arrests in President Jonathan’s home state made nonsense of the adage that “charity begins at home.” There have been several 2011protests already and fears of bomb attack on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) secretariat in the state.
In several polling units, there were no result sheets. In some communities, there were no election materials at all. Sometimes, it was in entire wards. In some polling units, voters with genuine voters’ cards could not find their names on voters’ lists. That was the sordid story in Bayelsa State. Certainly, INEC can only be commended elsewhere, not in Bayelsa State.
As a result, INEC, whose officials were also alleged to have been part of the “show of shame” has been in a quandary to announce the results even as protests have greeted the outcome with opposition political parties including the Labour Party (LP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Change Advocate Party (CAP) and All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) calling for outright cancellation of the elections, rejection of the declared results and transfer of Edwin Nwatarali, the resident electoral commissioner (REC).
The Labour Party in particular, named top Bayelsa government officials who were involved in alleged rigging of the elections as well as former militant leaders and the role of the Joint Task Force (JTF), police and INEC officials in denying the electorate their right to vote for the candidates of their choice.
Adou Badou, LP state chairman, named Gideon Ekeuwei, secretary to the State Government; Kesiye Frank-Oputu, commissioner for Special Duties (Central); Stephen Diver, special adviser to the Governor on Inter-party Matters; Maxwell Oko, commissioner for Energy; Samuel Ogbuku, chief of Staff, Government House; Sonny Igoli, special adviser to the Governor on Youth Matters; and Richard Kpodoh special adviser to the Governor on Security; as top government officials allegedly involved in election malpractice.
Others named by Badou include Heineken Lokpobiri, incumbent senator, representing Bayelsa West; Nathaniel Sylva, chairman of Brass Local Government Area; the PDP candidate in Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency, Foingha Jephthah; and former militant leaders, Africa, Joshua and Ogunboss.
Bayelsa State Information, Orientation and Strategy Commissioner, Nathan Egba, has debunked the allegation that state government officials were involved in cases of electoral malpractice.
A statement signed by the governorship candidate of the party, Imoro Kubor, condemned the conduct of the elections and rejection of any results from the affected areas, saying they are “totally unacceptable.”
Late on Monday, INEC issued a press statement signed by the public relations officer, Priscilla Imoudu-Sule, saying results declared in “Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, were declared in error as the results are still being reviewed due to widespread irregularities reported” during the elections. The commission also stated that the election in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency was inconclusive due to irregularities as the election did not hold in four wards and irregularities in other wards.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) too has not rested on its oars as its candidates have been addressing series of press conferences urging INEC to uphold the results that have so far been announced even in areas where the worst cases of malpractice took place such as Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
The Labour Party in Bayelsa state has expressed total loss of confidence in the ability of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Nwatalari Nwane and the Administrative secretary of INEC to conduct an acceptable election in 2011.
Addressing a news conference in Yenagoa last Sunday, the chairman of Labour party in the state, Mr. Atari Bobo-Adou made it clear that the party is rejecting the results so far declared and called for the immediate removal of the REC.
Bobo–Adou said the party has put the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission. Professor Attahiru Jega on notice that in six local government area electoral materials were allegedly hijacked and votes allotted to political parties.
He remarked that the opposition party is eagerly waiting for professor Jega to uphold his promise of prosecuting a serving senator who allegedly diverted electoral materials to his private residence with the aide of security agents and INEC officials.
The Party Chief described the outcome of the National Assembly elections as an unfortunate development for democracy in the country considering the fact that some persons in high places made desperate efforts to subvert the will of the people.
Bobo-Adou expressed reservations that PDP stalwarts in southern Ijaw Local government area allegedly highjacked materials meant for Olubobiri, Ezefu Peremabiri, Koluama and Azuzuama and prevented the electorates from voting.
The Chairman noted with dismay that in Amassoma, Otuan and Amatolo communities of Igboin clan, officials of INEC connived with a special adviser to Governor Timipre Sylva in conveying electoral materials without result sheets.
While Nembe Local Government area,, he noted that electoral materials meant for seven wards in the Bassambiri axis were said to have been hijacked by PDP loyalists using the security operatives as cover.
Monday, 11 April 2011
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate for Bayelsa west, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor, has been arrested by men of the security service of the state for allegedly manipulating the National Assembly election in that district.
Ekeremor Local Government Area which was a war zone earlier in the botched election leaving about two persons dead and a state security service officer with gun wounds while Sagbama a free zone for electoral fraud and intimidations.
Reportedly, he was arrested at the Eanest Sesei Ikoli press centre secretariat, when he allegedly led a house of representative candidate for Southern-Ijaw , elders and other party supporters to brief the press over the just concluded NASS election.
Journalist were surprise over his arrest because he had earlier denied that there weren’t any attempt for his arrest, adding that elections in that district were free and fair in all wards except the two wards were the Labour Party senatorial candidate disenfranchise the people of that constituency from exhibiting their human right.
Lokpobiri challenged the Independence National Electoral Commissions position over the withdrawal of the previous declaration of the Bayelsa west senatorial district result, maintaining that INEC does not have the legal authority to go back and review the result that has already been declared.
The senator whose argument was based on the press released issued and signed by the public affairs officer, Mrs. Priscilia Imoudu Sule, that the previous announced result in favour of the PDP senatorial candidate was declared in error as the election results are still being reviewed due to widespread irregularities reported during the April 9th 2011 elections, stated that if INEC wants to do things fairly to affirm that they conducted a free and fair elections in the state to mark an history breaking record they shouldn’t interfere with the results.
He also accused the retired National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, of working with opposition parties in the state against the president of the country to purport security reports and instigate violence in Bayelsa. He also threatened INEC not to incite the public and the ruling people’s party in the state and country
Ekeremor Local Government Area which was a war zone earlier in the botched election leaving about two persons dead and a state security service officer with gun wounds while Sagbama a free zone for electoral fraud and intimidations.
Reportedly, he was arrested at the Eanest Sesei Ikoli press centre secretariat, when he allegedly led a house of representative candidate for Southern-Ijaw , elders and other party supporters to brief the press over the just concluded NASS election.
Journalist were surprise over his arrest because he had earlier denied that there weren’t any attempt for his arrest, adding that elections in that district were free and fair in all wards except the two wards were the Labour Party senatorial candidate disenfranchise the people of that constituency from exhibiting their human right.
Lokpobiri challenged the Independence National Electoral Commissions position over the withdrawal of the previous declaration of the Bayelsa west senatorial district result, maintaining that INEC does not have the legal authority to go back and review the result that has already been declared.
The senator whose argument was based on the press released issued and signed by the public affairs officer, Mrs. Priscilia Imoudu Sule, that the previous announced result in favour of the PDP senatorial candidate was declared in error as the election results are still being reviewed due to widespread irregularities reported during the April 9th 2011 elections, stated that if INEC wants to do things fairly to affirm that they conducted a free and fair elections in the state to mark an history breaking record they shouldn’t interfere with the results.
He also accused the retired National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, of working with opposition parties in the state against the president of the country to purport security reports and instigate violence in Bayelsa. He also threatened INEC not to incite the public and the ruling people’s party in the state and country
Hijack of election materials, pockets of violence and disenfranchisement of voters was recorded at the conduct of the National Assembly election in most parts of Bayelsa state.
Accreditation in many parts of the state stated earlier as the Independence National Electoral Commission ensured that materials were distributed because of the river terrain of the state still other parts never got materials till the end of the exercise.
In Sagbama ward eleven, no senate materials were made available while where over seven hundred materials were needed only a hundred ballot papers was provided and also in a nearby unit in ward six no single material was available.
Ekeremor Local Government Area which earlier in the botched election had about three persons killed was another zone where supporters of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded blames over hijacked of election materials by unknown desperate politicians.
Information reaching us has it that a serving senator of the state under the platform of the PDP representing Ekeremor/ Sagbama, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri perpetrated the unfortunate situation of commandeering corps members and elections materials to his house for manupilations.
In Brass, the case was not different, one person was confirmed dead from a stray bullet, an alleged attempt by a top politician to overrun the INEC office by supporters of some political parties but was repelled by men of the Joint Task Force, and a polling officer in the area stated that election materials were hijacked by unknown persons.
In Southern- Ijaw Local Government Area, Ex-militants were said to have hijacked election materials, especially result sheets from Olugbobiri and Oporoma where all manipulation was done without any eligible voters.
In Amasoma, result sheets were hijacked by unknown persons with the connivance of INEC officials in the area which was later revealed when the officials were arrested through the instruction of the former governor of the state.
Meanwhile the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, earlier vowed that the elections would be smooth and the votes of every Nigerian must count, declaring that attempts by desperate politicians in the country to derail the 2011 elections would fail.
Jonathan who spoke in company of his wife, Dame Patience and mother completed the accreditation process under few minutes at the Otazi play ground, polling unit 13 and came back to vote at 12.10pm, stated that the explosion in Suleja, Niger state was the handiwork of those who do not want the 2011 elections to succeed.
He maintained that the occurrence of explosion in Suleja after the one that was detonated during the PDP rally was an indication that a cell of anti-social elements are in the area, adding that the federal government would comb the area and fish them out.
According to the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate of the state, Ndutimi Alaibe, stated that its quiet sad in this time and age when a reasonable voters accreditation exercise was conducted still people still believe in the past election process of rigging.
Alaibe who stated this at Igbainwari town square, polling unit 14, Opokuma North after he exercised his voter’s right, maintained that it is a sad situation where people make their homes as polling unit and disenfranchise the people’s right of chosen their leaders.
He also promised that those who perpetrated those acts will be pursued to the point where they will be apprehended. “We won’t condole that act, whether they are security agents, INEC officials or government officials they must be prosecuted.
Accreditation in many parts of the state stated earlier as the Independence National Electoral Commission ensured that materials were distributed because of the river terrain of the state still other parts never got materials till the end of the exercise.
In Sagbama ward eleven, no senate materials were made available while where over seven hundred materials were needed only a hundred ballot papers was provided and also in a nearby unit in ward six no single material was available.
Ekeremor Local Government Area which earlier in the botched election had about three persons killed was another zone where supporters of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded blames over hijacked of election materials by unknown desperate politicians.
Information reaching us has it that a serving senator of the state under the platform of the PDP representing Ekeremor/ Sagbama, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri perpetrated the unfortunate situation of commandeering corps members and elections materials to his house for manupilations.
In Brass, the case was not different, one person was confirmed dead from a stray bullet, an alleged attempt by a top politician to overrun the INEC office by supporters of some political parties but was repelled by men of the Joint Task Force, and a polling officer in the area stated that election materials were hijacked by unknown persons.
In Southern- Ijaw Local Government Area, Ex-militants were said to have hijacked election materials, especially result sheets from Olugbobiri and Oporoma where all manipulation was done without any eligible voters.
In Amasoma, result sheets were hijacked by unknown persons with the connivance of INEC officials in the area which was later revealed when the officials were arrested through the instruction of the former governor of the state.
Meanwhile the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, earlier vowed that the elections would be smooth and the votes of every Nigerian must count, declaring that attempts by desperate politicians in the country to derail the 2011 elections would fail.
Jonathan who spoke in company of his wife, Dame Patience and mother completed the accreditation process under few minutes at the Otazi play ground, polling unit 13 and came back to vote at 12.10pm, stated that the explosion in Suleja, Niger state was the handiwork of those who do not want the 2011 elections to succeed.
He maintained that the occurrence of explosion in Suleja after the one that was detonated during the PDP rally was an indication that a cell of anti-social elements are in the area, adding that the federal government would comb the area and fish them out.
According to the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate of the state, Ndutimi Alaibe, stated that its quiet sad in this time and age when a reasonable voters accreditation exercise was conducted still people still believe in the past election process of rigging.
Alaibe who stated this at Igbainwari town square, polling unit 14, Opokuma North after he exercised his voter’s right, maintained that it is a sad situation where people make their homes as polling unit and disenfranchise the people’s right of chosen their leaders.
He also promised that those who perpetrated those acts will be pursued to the point where they will be apprehended. “We won’t condole that act, whether they are security agents, INEC officials or government officials they must be prosecuted.
According to a statement by Mrs. Pricilla Imoudu Sule, INEC’s image maker, incumbent House of Representative member for the constituency Hon. Warman Ogriba recorded 19,340 votes to beat Labour Party candidate with 17,682 votes while ACN pulled 383.
There are fears that the delay in releasing the results of the National Assembly polls may not be unconnected with moves by the ruling party to manipulate the electoral process in favour of t their candidates.
Twenty-four hours after the election reports have it that the Labour Party was leading in most of the Local Government areas of the state in what could be described as a move to unseat the People’s Democratic Party.
In Town-Brass, a loyalist of Hon. Nelson Belief the incumbent House of Representatives member for Nembe-Brass Federal constituency was killed when supporters of Labour Party and the PDP clashed in the premises of INEC in the area Nelson belief is seeking re-election.
There are reports that there were no election materials or presence of official s of the Independent National Electoral Commission in most of the polling units to enable the electorate exercise their franchise.
In Otuake, the country home of President Goodluck Jonathan, accreditation and voting went on smoothly while the president voted in the community exactly 12:30pm to signal the commencement of the exercise .
However, crisis erupted in the neighnoruing Otuasege community in Ogbia local government when supporters of the main opposition party (LABOUR Party) clashed with supporters of the ruling party where a youth was macheted.
The Council of Domestic Observers led by Mr. Amangala Josiah has thanked the people of the state for show-casing what it takes to produce a president of the country considering the conduct National Assembly polls.
He described the elections as peaceful, credible and acceptable emphasizing that Bayelsa has never witnessed such an electoral process.
Friday, 1 April 2011
As part of effort towards nation building women have been urged to play optimal role to take leading in bringing about change in the society.
The representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) MDCEO, Mrs. Emenike Iheoma gave the advice on the occasion of leadership training/fund raising programme organized by Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria at the Earnest Seisei Ikoli Press Centre, Azikoro road, Yenagoa the state capital.
Mrs. Iheoma stated that the integration of women in development is no longer merry-go slogan as concrete step is to be ensured that gender mainstreaming and girl-child education is taken seriously.
Speaking at the occasion, the guest speaker, Dr. Kamio Bruce with the theme: “Arise Bayelsa: Leading for Change” stated that new Nigeria of the people’s dream will emerge when leaders understand that government do not belong to them will now have to care for the people, stressing that a leader who is leading and people do not follow is only but strolling.
Dr. Bruce stated that when change is ignored, the only thing one welcomes is chains, saying that a leader should be able to effect a change to the people where the mentality will determine the manifestation.
The guest speaker stated that people need mental orientation where men and women who are changed upstairs can take the leadership role to ensure effecting a change.
Speaking to journalists after the occasion, the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria, Queen Preye Court noted that women are not carried along as nobody to sponsor them especially the group she is heading but on empowerment of women, they have tried their best supporting the women in their little way; thus nee sponsors to assist the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria.
Queen Court stated to mobilize women to vote for the person of their choice in April’s poll, stressing that in the oil communities of Niger Delta and in the states level, women should be carried along and sensitized to have understanding of what people are doing.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, the Managing Director of Pahek Security Services Limited, Mr. Otunba Patrick H. Keku, represented by Elder Gesiye Ekade stated that women are special right from creation, saying that it is his first time identifying with the group and as an INC elder will communicate the executives that such a group exists so as to be partnering.
The representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) MDCEO, Mrs. Emenike Iheoma gave the advice on the occasion of leadership training/fund raising programme organized by Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria at the Earnest Seisei Ikoli Press Centre, Azikoro road, Yenagoa the state capital.
Mrs. Iheoma stated that the integration of women in development is no longer merry-go slogan as concrete step is to be ensured that gender mainstreaming and girl-child education is taken seriously.
Speaking at the occasion, the guest speaker, Dr. Kamio Bruce with the theme: “Arise Bayelsa: Leading for Change” stated that new Nigeria of the people’s dream will emerge when leaders understand that government do not belong to them will now have to care for the people, stressing that a leader who is leading and people do not follow is only but strolling.
Dr. Bruce stated that when change is ignored, the only thing one welcomes is chains, saying that a leader should be able to effect a change to the people where the mentality will determine the manifestation.
The guest speaker stated that people need mental orientation where men and women who are changed upstairs can take the leadership role to ensure effecting a change.
Speaking to journalists after the occasion, the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria, Queen Preye Court noted that women are not carried along as nobody to sponsor them especially the group she is heading but on empowerment of women, they have tried their best supporting the women in their little way; thus nee sponsors to assist the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria.
Queen Court stated to mobilize women to vote for the person of their choice in April’s poll, stressing that in the oil communities of Niger Delta and in the states level, women should be carried along and sensitized to have understanding of what people are doing.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, the Managing Director of Pahek Security Services Limited, Mr. Otunba Patrick H. Keku, represented by Elder Gesiye Ekade stated that women are special right from creation, saying that it is his first time identifying with the group and as an INC elder will communicate the executives that such a group exists so as to be partnering.
The Leadership of the Labour Party yesterday expressed worry over the rising cases of violent attacks and intimidation of members of the opposition parties in the state by the ruling party,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),alleging that the Governor Sylva led administration has stock-piled arms for the polls.
According to the Party, though the opposition are holding unto the campaign by President Goodluck Jonathan for a free and fair polls in the state, the ruling administration have hired the services of some ex-militant leaders and the state security outfit known as Famou Tamgbe to use the illegal arms stored to intimidate and oppress voters in the state.
But the Publicity Secetary of the PDP in Bayelsa State,Ene Ketebu said though the allegations presented by the Labour Party was false and unfounded,the ruling Party does not need arms to win the general elections in the state.
In the Statement issued yesterday by the Labour Party and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Priye Julius ,the Party said the illegal acts and campaign of oppression by the ruling Party under the leadership of Governor Timipre Sylva allegedly commenced acts of intimidation at the declaration of electoral processes by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to the Labour Party,”As you all know,the state is a flash point in the coming elections.From the first day INEC blew the whistle for political campaigns,the ruling party in the state has exhibited undemocratic norms by using violence to intimidate opposing political parties.The purpose is to subvert the will of the people during the elections.”
The Labour Party noted with concern the present administration in the state has stock-piled arms,”the aim of stock-pilling arms and ammunition is to rig the elections.Instead of Voters card,the government intends to use guns to kill and maim law-abiding Bayelsans who want to come out en-masse to cast their votes peacefully for the party of choice.”
“With only two days to the National Assembly elections,ex-militants, who voluntarily took part in the Federal Government Amnesty programme are reported to have been recruited by the PDP led Government to take part in their plot to rig by giving them guns again.It is known that the PDP government is working in concert with an illegal police outfit known as Famou Tamgbe.”
The Labour Party listed the areas identified as being used for arms and ammunition stock-piling in the state.The areas listed include Southern Ijaw,Ekeremor,Brass,Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area.
They stated that “We call on the Inspector-General of Police,the Chief of Army Staff,the Director-Gneral of Police and the SSS to be on red alert to avert the impeding bloodshed of innocent people of the state and the plan of the Timipre administration to rig the elections.”
Contacted on the claims of the Labour Party,the Publicity Secetary of the PDP,Ene Ketebu said instead of the opposition parties to focus on campaigns,they are busy accusing PDP of plotting to rig, ”We have campaigned vigorously in the state by moving from one local council to another. The Labour Party is accusing us because they know that they will fail during the polls.We don’t need to rig elections because we have worked hard.”
According to the Party, though the opposition are holding unto the campaign by President Goodluck Jonathan for a free and fair polls in the state, the ruling administration have hired the services of some ex-militant leaders and the state security outfit known as Famou Tamgbe to use the illegal arms stored to intimidate and oppress voters in the state.
But the Publicity Secetary of the PDP in Bayelsa State,Ene Ketebu said though the allegations presented by the Labour Party was false and unfounded,the ruling Party does not need arms to win the general elections in the state.
In the Statement issued yesterday by the Labour Party and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Priye Julius ,the Party said the illegal acts and campaign of oppression by the ruling Party under the leadership of Governor Timipre Sylva allegedly commenced acts of intimidation at the declaration of electoral processes by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to the Labour Party,”As you all know,the state is a flash point in the coming elections.From the first day INEC blew the whistle for political campaigns,the ruling party in the state has exhibited undemocratic norms by using violence to intimidate opposing political parties.The purpose is to subvert the will of the people during the elections.”
The Labour Party noted with concern the present administration in the state has stock-piled arms,”the aim of stock-pilling arms and ammunition is to rig the elections.Instead of Voters card,the government intends to use guns to kill and maim law-abiding Bayelsans who want to come out en-masse to cast their votes peacefully for the party of choice.”
“With only two days to the National Assembly elections,ex-militants, who voluntarily took part in the Federal Government Amnesty programme are reported to have been recruited by the PDP led Government to take part in their plot to rig by giving them guns again.It is known that the PDP government is working in concert with an illegal police outfit known as Famou Tamgbe.”
The Labour Party listed the areas identified as being used for arms and ammunition stock-piling in the state.The areas listed include Southern Ijaw,Ekeremor,Brass,Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area.
They stated that “We call on the Inspector-General of Police,the Chief of Army Staff,the Director-Gneral of Police and the SSS to be on red alert to avert the impeding bloodshed of innocent people of the state and the plan of the Timipre administration to rig the elections.”
Contacted on the claims of the Labour Party,the Publicity Secetary of the PDP,Ene Ketebu said instead of the opposition parties to focus on campaigns,they are busy accusing PDP of plotting to rig, ”We have campaigned vigorously in the state by moving from one local council to another. The Labour Party is accusing us because they know that they will fail during the polls.We don’t need to rig elections because we have worked hard.”
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