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HOW THE BAYELSA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION VOTES WILL BE CAST

APC WINNING WAYS

By Ibrahim Bakare

Prior to the November 16th, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa state www.towncrier.ng carried out unscientific opinion polls which may not only be a baseline report but from various active voters in the 8 Local Government Areas of Bayelsa state. Sagbama Local Government Area where Governor Seriake Dickson and running mate to PDP Governorship candidate hail from has a voting population of 105,705 eligible registered voters. Ekeremor Local Government Area has voting strength of 123,567 while Ogbia Local Government Area has 108, 691 voting strength as ex-president GoodLuck Jonathan hails from here. Brass Local Government Area which has 65,900 registered voters and Nembe, with two dominating communities where Amanyanabo of Nembe His Eminence King Dr. Edmund Daukoru is holding sway for the traditional institution as ex Minister of Energy during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration also had current Minister of State for Petroleum Timpre Sylva as his Aide then.  The two communities of Bassamabiri and Ogbolobiri all have come together to supporting the candidate of APC in the highly contested Bayelsa state Governorship poll.  Bayelsa state central senatorial district has Southern Ijaw with the highest voting strength of 168, 844 registered voters where David Lyon APC Governorship candidate hails from remains sure bet for APC

The good people of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area is a PDP strong hold as Timi Alaibe a man after the CREEK HAVEN since 2003 when he had wanted to dislodge the then occupant late DSP Alamieyeseigha and had consistently contested at each electoral years Governorship primary election without success. At the eve of the main election it has been reported that he challenged Senator Duoye Diri Governorship candidate of PDP as Abuja federal High Court had reportedly disqualified the candidature of Senator Diri on Friday, 15th of November, 2019. Senator Diri also hails from Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA with a voting strength of 50,477. But with the disgrace of Honourable Tonye sena from Odi the former Speaker of Bayelsa state House of Assembly PDP’s dominance in the area is doubtful.

Read Also: GOVERNOR SERIAKE DICKSON’S 2020 EXIT PLAN

The true battle ground in the governorship election is Yenagoa which has cosmopolitan demographic background with a lot of non-indigenous people. It has a voting strength of 180, 263 voters. But with the economic hardship hitting the people they may turn their anger against PDP led government of Seriake Dickson which may result from disenchantment against PDP governorship candidate. Another factor is that of Epie Atissa o dominant ethnic group in Bayelsa but had not tested Governorship or Deputy Governorship position has a member of House of Assembly Honourable Ofor Orji of PDP will be strictly observed as he any spring up charges that will swing votes to his party-PDP.

THE ROLE OF EX MILITANTS IN BAYELSA STATE

The role of the ex-militants who are well captured in the Presidential Amnesty Programme is well known as majority of them have shifted their loyalty to David Lyon APC governorship candidate. Majority of them had been either rehabilitated via economic recovery project which he provided as a contractor to Multinational Oil companies’ facilities security Surveillance of Pipelines and Flow stations. In one of their campaign outing the repentant ex militants including their leader Ebikabowei Victor-Ben popularly known as Boyloaf described the incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson as an emperor while saying that David Lyon is being held in admiration as a philanthropist and a man who will govern Bayelsa state as from February 2020 when Dickson’s second term must have come to an end. Other ex-Militants such as the leader of Movement For the Emancipation of Niger Delta –MEND Government Ekpemupolo popularly addressed as Tompolo has support fo APC Governorship candidate David Lyon. Elder statesman Edwin Clark and former Acting Governor of Bayelsa state Peremobowei Ebebi moved from PDP to APC and he comes the same LGA with Dickson.

ROLE OF SECURITY AGENCIES

The November 16th, 2019 Governorship election will be security tight as about 32, 000 Police men and women had been drafted to secure flash points including marine Policemen and navy person and Amphibious Military officers already deployed for Operation Crocodiles Smile 4 have the waterways covered as sensitive electoral materials would be distributed via the  waterways.

The Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu who was recently at Yenagoa admitted that about 15 Commissioners of Police, three Assistant Inspector General of Police A.I.G and Deputy Inspector General of Police D.I.G all have been redeployed temporarily to Bayelsa state for the election proper. The Commissioners of Police involved are Joseph Murktar, Bashir Makura,  Habu Sani, Danladi Bitrus Lalas, Garba baba Umar, Sanusi Buba, Bello Mokwashi, Usman Sule Gomina, Mohammed Gimba Omolola Bishi,  and Acting Commissioner of Police Odumosu Olusegun et.c all have been drafted to Monitor the bayelsa state governorship election.

INEC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN’S CHARGE

Earlier in the month of November, 2019 Independent national Electoral Commission –INEC  Professor Yakubu Mahmood visited Bayelsa state where he said “ we to assure you that as far as the credible process are concerned we shall maintain our neutrality as umpires.  INEC is not a political party. INEC has no candidate in the election. The chopice of who becomes the next governor are entirely in the hands of the people of Bayelsa state. We have delivered all non-sensitive materials for the election. We have secured funding and made funds available to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for administration of the election. We have no problem whatsoever. We will deploy straight from our office in Yenagoa to the registration Areas to make it faster for us to be  able to open the Polling Units at 8-am. We are committed to ensuring that voters don’t wait for INEC officials and materials to arrive. We should be there waiting for voters to come and vote.”

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