*Say APC candidate mobilised cultists, hoodlums to disrupt
voting
A team of observers during the presidential and National
Assembly elections in Bayelsa State has said that voting materials were
hijacked and that the polls were marred by violence and rigging in three local
government areas of the state.
This is coming on the heels of the announcement by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that 63 smart cards readers
were missing in the state after they were stolen during the last elections.
The commission has appealed to those in possession of the
card readers to return them just as it has raised concerns why the electoral
umpire declared results in areas the card readers were not used.
The observers from the Organisation of Justice for Equity
Sustenance specifically stated that the elections in parts of Nembe, Brass and
Southern Ijaw local government areas were characterised by irregularities while
the exercise was relatively peaceful in the other five councils in the state.
The state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have all
disputed the results of the elections, particularly in those three council
areas.
This fresh twist was contained in the organisation’s
Observation/Report of Activities submitted to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on
Wednesday. It was signed by Mr. Adeboye Nelson.
The observers noted in the report that voting did not take
place in five wards of Constituency 4 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area,
namely wards 4, 12, 14, 15 and 16 as the election materials were hijacked.
In Brass, it said there was violence and rigging while an
unnamed APC candidate mobilised cultists and hoodlums to disrupt the elections
and molest INEC ad hoc staff as well as a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kola
Okunola.
It affirmed as true the report by an electoral officer, Uzoma
Diala, that elections did not take place in the area.
Also, it stated that there were no elections in Constituency
2 covering seven wards in Nembe Local Government Area.
“In Ekeremor LGA, the election was relatively peaceful.
Nembe LGA, (there was) no elections in Constituency 2 and 3 covering the other
7 wards.
“In Sagbama, the elections were peaceful there. It was
the most peaceful LGA. The card reader at first was not authenticating as a
result of the network but was later resolved. (There was) no stamp for thumb
printing.
“Southern Ijaw/Brass: there was no election in
Constituency 4 ward 4, 14, 15, 16 and 12 (Southern Ijaw). The materials were
hijacked.
“There was violence and rigging (in Brass). The aspirant
(candidate) of the APC mobilised cultists and hoodlums to disrupt the
elections. The Ad hoc staffs were molested, including the DCP Kola Okunola, who
was deployed there. The E.O’s (Uzoma Diala) comment that elections did not take
place is true,” the report stated.
The observers equally noted that there were no major hitches
in Yenagoa LGA as voting went on peacefully in ward 6 units 008, 10 and 11 but
that there was shortage of stamp in Unit 16.
They also stated that the Resident Electoral Commissioner
worked tirelessly to ensure each local government area got election materials,
which they said distribution commenced early, and that the commission’s
officials and Ad hoc staff comported themselves very well during the exercise