By Amos Okioma
As predicted by some observers, the governorship primary of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Bayelsa State for the November 16 governorship election has begun amidst high tension, shooting and many uncertainties.
There are 21 aspirants vying to become the flag bearer of the party, with Senator Douye Diri, representing Bayelsa Central in the senate emerging as the preferred choice of the out- going governor, Seriake Dickson.
This morning there was uncertainty as to where the primary election would hold as party officials declined to disclose the venue, citing security reasons, even as many roads were blocked by stern looking security operatives.
Journalists also had a hard time to secure accreditation tags as the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Barr. Osom Macbere who came to the NUJ press centre to distribute the tags complained of insufficient number of tags provided by the Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso Markson.
It was alleged that the insufficient tags was a deliberate ploy by the state government to tactically reduce the number of journalists who would have access to the venue of the primary election ostensibly to minimize the spread of the ugly scenes that were allegedly programmed to happen at the venue.
At Ijaw House along the Sani Abacha Way in the state capital where the accreditation of delegates was later taken to, the atmosphere there looked like a garrison as the combined presence of police, both regular and mobile force, including men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps literally out- numbered the crowd outside the gigantic edifice.
A Deputy Commissioner of police, and Commander of the State anti crime squad, code named Operation Doo Akpo, DCP Asufie was having hectic time controlling the movement in and out of the venue as some youths were patrolling along the Sani Abacha road chanting war songs.
As the tensed situation around the venue was getting more charged, sporadic gun shots were heard from a distance, and this prompted a riot of clicking sounds as the security men readied their riffles for any eventuality.
Some journalists who already found their way inside the premises rushed out to escape for dear lives, while others yet to be checked in by the police voted with their legs.
The Returning Officer for the primary election, and governor of Taraba State, Mr. Ishaku Dairus had earlier hurriedly left the venue in his convoy.
It was alleged that the ploy by the outgoing governor of the state to foist a successor on the state and the determination by other aspirants not in the governor’s political family, Restoration Caucus to resist the imposition is heightening the tension.