• PDP’ll win landslide – Gov Diri • LP raises alarm over hijack of materials
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Late arrival of electoral materials and officials marred the Bayelsa Local Government Council elections conducted yesterday.
Despite assurances by the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), Dr Peter Singabele, that sensitive materials have been sent to all the polling units, voting started late in several polling units.
In most of the voting units in the Yenagoa metropolis, especially Kpansia, Yene-zue Epie, Yenezue-Gene and Ekeki, voting did not start until about 10:00 a.m.
In Ofoni, Sagbama Local Government Area, materials arrived at about 9:00 a.m while voting did not start until about 10:30 a.m.
The situation was not different in Ogbia, Brass and Nembe, where electoral materials were distributed late and voting also started late.
The turnout of voters was also not impressive in several polling units visited in the Yenagoa metropolis, Ogbia and Nembe.
In Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government, Governor Douye Diri’s home local council, the turnout was also poor.
Diri who voted along his wife, Dr Loria Diri, at his Kalamaowei Wari unit 4, ward 6 in Sampou community at about 10:15 a.m downplayed the voters apathy, noting that voters would eventually turn up because of the significance of the local government council election.
He also expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of the overwhelming support it enjoys in the state would win the elections with a landslide.
Diri commended BYSIEC for the peaceful conduct and the seamless process of voting, which he said would instil confidence in the electorate.
“You can see that the exercise is peaceful here and it was seamless and the voting process is seamless and I think this is the way it is in all other units and wards and we expect a peaceful and successful local government elections will usher in a new leadership in the local government.
“Eventually, people will come out because they know that the local government chairmanship and councillorship are the closest to the people and I also remember that during our own party nomination processes, the level of interest that its generated across the whole state, clearly people are aware that today is local government elections in Bayelsa State.
“Clearly, the build up to this election, the PDP went round campaigning across all wards and local government areas, we have candidates in the eight local government areas and 105 wards and so by the grace of God I am sure that at the end of the day we have the support of the people judging by the outcome of the 2023 elections.”
On why the All Progressive Congress, APC, is not participating in the election, Diri noted that only the faction of the party under the control of Dr Dennis Otiotio as chairman and Chief Timipre Sylva boycotted the exercise.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewrudjakpo, who voted at the Ofoni Primary School at 10:36 a.m complained about the late arrival of voting materials.
He also expressed optimism that the PDP would clear the eight local government councils and the 105 councillorship seats.
However, there was a protest in Sagbama Local Government Area by members of the Labour Party over the alleged hijacking of electoral materials for five wards.
LP, which is fielding a chairmanship candidate and some candidates for councillorship positions had complained on Friday night of diversion of electoral materials.
According to sources, electoral materials meant for wards 11, 14, 7, 13 and 6 were allegedly hijacked by loyalists of another political party.