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By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
The local government election is expected to hold today, Saturday, in the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State.
The Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), led by its chairman, Chief Remember Ogbe, announced that about 44 political parties would be participating in the election, including the Peoples Democratic Party.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has however boycotted the election, citing lack of confidence in the composition of the state electoral commission.
The state independent electoral commission has urged all Bayelsans with Permanent Voters Cards to file out in their numbers to the various polling units and vote for their preferred candidates come August 10, 2019.
The acting chairman of the commission, Doctor Remember Ogbe made this call while briefing the press after a stakeholders meeting with party chairmen in his office in Yenagoa.
Ogbe however, said that there would be restriction of movement on Saturday August 10, 2019 between the hours of 8am to 2pm.
He said the action is to enable the commission conduct free, fair and credible local government elections.
According to the electoral commission’s chairman, voters are to come out to their respective polling units at 8:00am for accreditation and voting will be done simultaneously, as he called on the electorates to maintain orderliness while the BYSIEC’s field workers carry out their duties to ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible process.
Also the state Police command, led by commissioner of Police, Mr. Uche Anozia, has deployed personnel to the various local councils, tasking officers and personnel drafted from neighboring states to complement the efforts of the state command to be professional during and after the local government polls in the state.
Commissioner of Police, CP Anozia, reminded them that the conduct of violence-free, fair and credible election is anchored on their neutrality.
He warned against any act that will question the integrity of the Nigeria Police force and urged them to remain good ambassadors in their places of assignment, for the police force, the state and the country at large.
The command’s helmsman urged politicians, the contestants and their supporters to abide by the electoral rules and regulation as anyone found wanting will be sanctioned in accordance with the constitution, as he advised personnel against compromise.
CP Anozia further cautioned those with the intent of snatching ballot papers or box, or engaging in thuggery and other forms of violence during and after the election, to steer clear of the polling units as the command is prepared to ensure rancor-free election.
The state commissioner of Police, CP Anozia, while assuring the electorates of their safety urged them to come out in their numbers to perform their civic duties without fear of intimidation as officers have been deployed to all the local government areas of the state.
