The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled Saturday’s Bayelsa State governorship election result in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) — one of the state’s eight LGAs.
The decision, which will soon be announced officially by INEC, implies that the governorship election is inconclusive.
INEC said the decision was taken because of violence, the abduction of electoral officials and ballot box snatching, among other irregularities.
A fresh election in the LGA will be conducted on a new date to be announced soon.
Governor Seriake Dickson has a clear lead in the election, according to results announced from seven LGAs so far by INEC.
Dickson, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won in majority of the seven local government areas announced by Monday by INEC.
His main challenger, former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has so far scored the second highest number of votes.
Professor Zane Akapaku, Bayelsa State Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, earlier met with electoral officers and stakeholders over the controversies surrounding the governorship election in the Local government.
PDP leaders are worried by the fact that Southern Ijaw LGA is where Sylva’s running mate and several ex-militant leaders who support Sylva hail from. It has the highest number of 108,838 registered voters in the state which APC is banking on to upturn the tables on Governor Dickson’s lead.
Police raise alarm over protest by PDP, APC to disrupt collation of results
Police raise alarm over a plot to stage protest against the possible outcome of the election.
The police raised the alarm in a statement by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Hashimu Argungu.
Some members of PDP had planned to protest against the conduct of the rescheduled election in Southern Ijaw area of the state.
The protesters are angry over an alleged plot by the APC to upturn the election results to favour its candidate,Chief Sylva.
-PremiumTimes, Leadership