Southern Ijaw: PDP writes INEC over rescheduled primaries, seeks protection for voters, others

The Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State on Sunday in Yenagoa raised the alarm over the rescheduled governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

The State chairman of PDP, Chief David Serena-Dokubo Spiff, in a letter to INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said the alarm became necessary because the issues of security of lives and electoral materials, which caused the shift of the exercise have still not been adequately addressed.

He suggested that adequate arrangements should be put in place within the next couple of days to ensure security for voters, INEC adhoc staff, including youth corps members and materials, because since lives have already been lost, “it is crucial to take steps to ensure that more lives are not lost.”

The letter entitled: “RESCHEDULED GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN SOUTHERN IJAW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAYELSA STATE – THE POSITION OF THE PDP” and dated December 6 reads:

“The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Bayelsa State, wishes to register its concern over the decision to conduct the governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, SILGA), Today, Sunday, 6th of December, 2015.

“Our position, is based on the fact that, the issues of security of lives and electoral materials, which caused the shift of the exercise from yesterday, have still not been adequately addressed.

“For emphasis, yesterday’s orgy of violence perpetrated by APC thugs in the full glare of security agents resulted in the loss of 5 lives.

“From information, the majority of the indigenes of Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and some other communities, are still taking refuge in the forest and swamps as a result of the heavy gunfire.

“The security situation has been confirmed to be even worse in the creeks and other communities in the area.

“The situation is still so tense, with gun shots heard in parts of Oporoma and other major communities in the Local Government Area, making it clearly impossible for any peaceful election to hold.

“It is, therefore, our position that, adequate arrangements be put in place within the next couple of days to ensure security for voters, INEC adhoc staff, including Youth Corpers and materials, because lives have already been lost, it is crucial to take steps to ensure that more lives are not lost.
“It is hoped that, INEC, the security agencies and other stakeholders take this genuine fear into consideration, so that, the people of Southern Ijaw can freely exercise their civic responsibilities.”