From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
ten traditional rulers from Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State, yesterday, mounted the witness box at the state governorship election tribunal, in Abuja and testified to the credibility of the January 9 election that produced Governor Seriake Dickson.
Decked in their traditional regalia, the monarchs swore on oath that the governorship election was free, fair and conducted in conformity with the Electoral Act, 2010.
They were subpoenaed by the state petition election tribunal sitting in Abuja to testify in the petition brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva challenging the credibility of the election.
Leading the pack was Job David Darius, the paramount ruler of Emiwari community, who told the tribunal that contrary to the claim of the petitioner that the election was marred with irregularities and violence, it was peaceful and orderly.
The paramount ruler who voted at Unit 4, ward 12, tendered his permanent voter card (PVC) to show that he participated in the election as a voter and that the election was free and fair.
Another monarch, Ayawei Job also collaborated the evidence of his colleague, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) performed credibly in the conduct of the election which was free and fair.
He also tendered his PVC to buttress the fact that he voted at polling unit 23 ward 4 of his community.
Earlier the tribunal overruled the objection raised by Sylva against the appearance of the traditional rulers on the grounds that the subpoena issued on them was wrong and unnecessary in law.
Meanwhile, civil servants in Bayelsa State have suspended their strike over unpaid salaries.
Yesterday soldiers and armed policemen took over the state secretariat and government offices to prevent a protest march by the workers.
However, the strike was suspended after a meeting between labour leaders and government representatives on a workable plan to ensure the payment of salaries.
During the meeting, which had in attendance the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Peter Singabele, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman in Bayelsa, John Bipre Ndiomu and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Tari Dounana, it was agreed that workers would be paid 50 percent of their monthly salaries from February 2016.
It was also agreed that government would effect full payment of salaries as soon as the allocation from the federation account accruing to the state improved.
The 50 percent agreed by the workers, it added was not a down ward review of salaries but a stop-gap measure to resolve the Labour dispute.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated that no worker would be sanctioned for the three days strike.