Bayelsa Rescheduled poll worries PDP

Peoples’ Democratic Party {PDP} has
expressed concern over Sunday`s rescheduled
election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in
Saturday’s governorship poll in Bayelsa, saying the
exercise ought to wait for some days.
.
This, according to Acting Chairman of the party in
Bayelsa, Chief David Spiff, is because people in the
area who ran away following the heavy gunfire in the
area on Saturday had not returned.
.
Spiff, who spoke at a news conference in Yenagoa on
Sunday, said, said that the party was worried because
security of lives and election materials, which caused
the shift of the exercise, had not been adequately
addressed.
.
“From available information, majority of residents of
Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Council and
some other communities, are still taking refuge in
the forest and swamps as a result of heavy gunfire,“
he said.
.
The chairman also said that the security situation had
been confirmed to be worse in the creeks and other
neighbouring communities.
“ It is, therefore, our position that adequate
arrangements be put in place within the next couple
of days to ensure security for voters, INEC ad hoc
staff, including youth corps members and materials,“
he said.
.
Spiff called on security agencies and other
stakeholders to consider our “genuine fear so that
the people of Southern Ijaw can freely exercise their
civic responsibilities“.
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In his comment, National Vice Chairman of the PDP
(South-South), said that the situation in the affected
council area had led to delay in the commencement
of the rescheduled election.
.
He said that the development could compromise
result of the entire election.
“ The concern of the PDP is that after the election,
who will protect the results? What will happen to the
NYSC members collating the results? Are there
enough policemen to secure the results?
“ This is the fear of the PDP and that is why we are
saying that there is cause for concern in Southern
Ijaw Local Government,” Ojougboh said.
.
He said the party was also worried over the attacks
on its members during the election on Saturday.