Jubilation In Yenagoa As INEC Cancels Southern Ijaw Election Over Irregularities, Violence

Posted by African Examiner Bayelsa Election 2015, Featured, News Monday, December 7th, 2015

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Yenagoa

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on Monday cancelled the controversial Southern Ijaw local government area election in Bayelsa State, over what it described as “substantial irregularities” that marred the governorship poll in the area.

It said a new date for the election will be announced in due course.

AFRICAN EXAMINER reports that election in the area could not hold last saturday 5th, December, following violence that enveloped various communities in the locality.

However, due to the ugly development, the electoral body, rescheduled the election for sunday 6th, December which was also marred by serious violence.

Announcing the cancellation, at the Bayelsa governorship election collation centre, in Yenegoa, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC) Baritor Kpagih, stated that the decision followed substantial irregularities that characterised the rescheduled poll on December 6th.

According to him, some of the irregularities includes, snatching of ballot boxes and threat to life of electoral officers deployed to the area, adding that such act falls below the expectation of international electoral standard.

The REC said a new date for the election will be made public by the commission.

Meanwhile, before the announcement, the PDP candidate, and Governor of the state, Seriaki Henry Dickson, had already won in six out of the seven local government council areas announced so far by INEC.

He polled a total of 105,748 votes as against his close rival and ex- governor of the state, Timipriye Silva of the All Progressive Congress, APC who scored a total of 72,594 votes

INEC had disclosed that there are 120,857 registered voters in the troubled Southern Ijaw LGA.

Despite INEC’s action, members of the PDP and supporters of Governor Dickson, went into wild jubilation across Yenegoa, the state capital, expressing optimism that their party will still win the election in the council area any time it is conducted.