STATISTICS SHOW THAT OUT OF 117 CASES OF BALLOT-SNATCHING NATIONWIDE, BAYELSA HAS 23

Last Saturday was a litmus test for President Goodluck Jonathan’s promise to deliver credible elections in the country. Since the return of the country to civil rule in 1999, elections have failed to meet internationally accepted standards.

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.