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 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“.
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. (NAN)
Comments