Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the January 9 governorship re-run election, has appealed to other candidates to allow peace to reign, insisting that politics is not a do or die affair.
He made this known during a press conference at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa on Monday, excerpts from which were published on his Twitter handle, @iamHSDickson.
“Our sincere appreciation to all those who came out to vote including old men and women who were made to come out at midnight until the wee hours of the morning to vote. We were victorious in 6 out of 7 LGAs released by INEC”.
“The people of Bayelsa have roundly rejected Timipre Sylva and his brand of politics and they will do so again and again”.
“I am the proponent of political tolerance. Politics is not do or die”.
“My humble self and our great party PDP are in politics to make friends not enemies, to build not destroy and to give life not take life. Thank you”.
The December 5 and 6 2015 governorship election was declared inconclusive following widespread electoral malpractices amid high tension between the two major political parties, APC and PDP, leading to the cancellation of the polls in the Southern Ijaw Local Government area and 101 units across six councils in the state which have been rescheduled for January 9, 2016.
We shall resist APC plot to rig Bayelsa suplementary polls – PDP
Ahead of Saturday’s Bayelsa state governorship run-off election in Southern Ijaw, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again rallied its formation in the state and particularly Southern Ijaw Local Government, to use all democratic means necessary to resist any move by APC to rig the election.
The party said it has since been made aware of plots by APC to use compromised security operatives and INEC officials to attempt to produce fictitious votes and declare itself winner, but vowed that any such unholy bid would be greeted with vehement resistance and dire consequences.
The PDP leadership in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Tuesday, reiterated that Southern Ijaw is a well-known PDP stronghold and that it would never accept any results that do not reflect the will of the people.
“We issue this statement as direct notice to APC and their compromised INEC, military and other security operatives who have been stationed to ostensibly assist to produce fictitious votes with which APC intends to declare itself winner.
“Let it be known to all that the PDP is fully mobilized for Saturday’s supplementary election. Our members across Southern Ijaw have been stationed in every polling unit, every collation center and every exit and entry point in the area, and have been directed to use all means available in a democracy to stop APC in their trail.
“Southern Ijaw Local Government is a well-known stronghold of the PDP and we will not in any way accept anything short of free, fair and credible elections, abundantly reflecting the will of the people. Anything to the contrary will attract terrible consequences. We restate our resolve that never again would PDP allow itself to be manipulated out in any election at any level, no matter the intimidation by the APC-led administration.
“Consequent upon our loss of confidence in INEC and security agencies, we hereby make public our instruction to our members and supporters not to leave the polling area after casting their votes but to remain alert within the distance provided by the law and go ahead to use all means necessary to defend and protect their votes, should there be any attempt by anybody to rig the process.
“PDP will intently monitor and keep records of activities, including all votes cast in every polling unit in Southern Ijaw and our members will not hesitate to unleash a legitimate anger, if at any point in collation, fictitious figures appear. In this regard, any INEC official who becomes a tool in the hands of evil will have him or herself to blame.
“Finally, we call on the international community and all well-meaning Nigerians to note the ceaseless undemocratic activities of the APC-led Federal Government and to hold it responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order during Saturday’s supplementary election in Bayelsa State.
-Vanguard
