The re-run governorship election in Bayelsa State on Saturday witnessed a large turnout of voters amidst unconfirmed reports of violence and irregularities in the 425 polling units in seven local government areas of Ekeremor, Ogbia, Nembe, Brass, Sagbama and Southern Ijaw council area.
Not surprisingly, while voting is yet to end in some of the late-starting polling units, the two front-runners in the election, incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson and his challenger, Chief Timipre Sylva are already claiming early lead without authentic figures collated by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
As a reminder, Dickson is the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sylva is the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenger hellbent on toppling him at the polls.
As early as 8:00am, most voters had started waiting at their various polling units with elections materials arriving as scheduled.
In some areas like Ammasoma, Ogbia, Sagbama and Nembe, election materials 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, and others trooped out early and got done with the process of voting.
In Okodi ward in Ogbia local government area of the state, with 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 Ammassoma community where materials arrived early, voting came to an end in some units early.
In Ward 11, Unit 14 in Ammassoma community, voting was concluded and counting of votes commenced by 2:00pm.
At the home community of the Bayelsa State Speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson in Kokorosei and two others of the Southern Ijaw local government area, the materials arrived early and voting commenced early too.
Also set to commence early accreditation and voting were the Ondoware and Ologbobiri communities where a foremost militant leader, “General Africa” hails from.
-Leadership
