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Bayelsa 2019….Live Updates

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Bayelsa 2019....Live Updates

INEC declares APC’s Lyon winner of Bayelsa election

INEC declares APC's Lyon winner of Bayelsa election

The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Bayelsa State, Chief David Lyon, as winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The APC candidate won in six out of the eight local government areas of the state, while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri, won in the remaining two.

This is the first time PDP will lose a governorship contest in Bayelsa as it has governed the state since the return of democracy to the country in 1999.

The Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, had said after the release of election result from Ekeremor Local Government Area on Sunday night that INEC would make its official declaration on the election before 1:00 a.m. on Monday.

While declaring the final result, Orumwense announced that Lyon polled 352,552 votes to defeat Diri, who recorded 143,172 votes.

The APC won in Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor and Yenagoa while the PDP was victorious in the Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas of the state.


APC awaits INEC confirmation of victory in Bayelsa after winning 6th local council

David-Lyon

David-Lyon

Following the release of the results for Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the state governorship election after winning six out of the eight local LGAs in the state.

The Collation Officer in Ekeremor LGA, Prof. Godfrey Ariarre, who announced the result, said the APC polled 21,489 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 18,344.

The APC has won in Brass, Nembe, Yenagoa, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw LGAs, while the PDP won in Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma LGAs.

With this result, APC has win the Bayelsa governorship election and what now remains is the official confirmation of the party’s victory by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


BAYELSA 2019: APC in the lead as INEC announces results in 6 LGAs

David Lyon

The final announcement of the governorship election results in Bayelsa has begun and results from six of the eight Local Government Areas of the state have already been announced.

A total of 45 parties contested in the election held on Saturday. However, major contenders are All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, David Lyon, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Duoye Diri.

In the results announced thus far at the collation centre in Yenagoa, APC’s Lyon is in the lead. He won in four of the six local governments announced while the PDP candidate won in the other two.

The results as announced by INEC below:

Ogbia LGA:

APC – 58,016

PDP – 13,763

Yenagoa LGA:

APC – 24,607

PDP – 19,184

Brass LGA:

APC – 23, 831

PDP –10, 410

Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA:

APC – 8,934

PDP – 15,360

Nembe LGA:

APC – 83, 041

PDP – 874

Sagbama LGA:

APC – 7,831

PDP – 60,339


BAYELSA: Military plotting to disrupt election collation, clergy alleges

IMO: Ad hoc staff complain over exclusion at Imo INEC office

A clergy and some communities in Bayelsa State have raised an alarm over an alleged plot by Nigerian military personnel to disrupt the collation of results of the state governorship election.

Rev. John Pofi of the John Pofi Foundation who, expressed worry at the large number of military personnel at Aridof Hotels, the political base of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipriye Silva, said the development could spell great danger to the state.

According to him, the military personnel were allegedly drafted to the APC base and other communities by Silva and the APC governorship candidate, David Lyon, on the suspicion they would used to disrupt the collation of election results.

He said: “They are allegedly camped in a location within the communities in preparation for disruption of results.

“Why are these soldiers in Bayelsa? What are these large number of soldiers doing here which are even more than during the general elections?

“Nigerians must cry out today and condemn the attempt by the military to repeat the mayhem and bloodbath they caused in Buguma, Rivers State, during the last general elections.”


Jonathan rues late arrival of INEC officials, voting materials in Ogbia

‘Politics is a very dynamic business’— Jonathan

After waiting endlessly for the arrival of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, voted at unit 39, Ward 13 at the Otazi Playground, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Saturday.

The former president, who was expected to cast his vote as early as 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning when he left his country home in Otuoke, voted at 11.30 a.m., while his wife voted at 11.35 a.m.

Moments after casting his vote, Jonathan who was accosted by journalists, said: “We must conduct ourselves if we want to really bring people to rule us either as president or governors.

“Nigerians are always blaming people in authorities and the leaders, so here they must blame themselves.

“Look at even this voting, I was around earlier, but the materials had yet to arrive in the polling unit.

“I have led election monitoring teams to other African countries, we use to go 30 minutes before the time and in our reports, we indicate the exact time when the vote starts.

“So, for election to start after that time it is an indictment to the electoral body that manages election. There is no reason here election should not start by 8:00 a.m.

“So, even the youth should stop blaming old people, you blame yourselves and do things properly.

“I am really disappointed on what I observe today compared to other African countries where I monitored elections.”


Dickson accuses APC of colluding with security agents to hijack election materials

BAYELSA: Reject life pension bill for assembly members, SERAP writes Dickson

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has alleged that members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have joined forces with security agents in the state to hijack voting materials.

The governor stated this in a chat with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 005, Ward 2, Toru-Orua community, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the security agents had aided the APC to move voting materials meant for Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas to unknown destinations.

“There is a well-organised election crime ongoing in our state. They have established unofficial collation centres in some places.

“Their whole intention is to subvert the will of the people and jeopardise the efforts of well-meaning Bayelsa people to develop the state,’’ he said.


Army, police, DSS deploy to INEC HQ in Yenagoa

Three years after, DSS gets new spokesman

The state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, is under tight security as officers of the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Army and Fire Service were seen stationed in and around the premises.

The police and army personnel were also seen at strategic entry points leading to the INEC state office on Swali and others within the city centre, keeping a watchful eye on the electoral process within the area.

The deployment of heavy security personnel at the INEC headquarters was done to ensure security and public’s compliance with restriction order on vehicular movement.


Thugs hijack election materials in Southern Ijaw

#BayelsaDecides: Thugs hijack election materials in Southern Ijaw

Some men suspected to be political thugs have allegedly hijacked and destroyed election materials in some parts of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The election materials were also destroyed by hoodlums at the RAC in Ekeremor Town.


Early morning voting in Nembe, Brass LGAs

The voting process in the ongoing gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State was reportedly peaceful in Brass, Nembe, and some parts of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Eligible voters who flooded most of the polling units as early as 8:30 a.m. were seen queuing up as accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously.

An election observer told journalists in some parts of Yenagoa, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Areas that accreditation and voting commenced a little behind schedule at about 9:00 a.m.


Armed youths clash over distribution of election materials

A gang of youths suspected to be political thugs were reportedly involved in a heated argument over the movement of election materials to several polling units in Otueke, Ngbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

The incident was recorded at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Registration Area Centre inside Community Secondary School, Otueke at 10.45 a.m. with many people around the area including journalists and election observers, fleeing for safety after noticing that some of the youths were armed.


PDP’s Diri casts vote in Bayelsa poll

BAYELSA GUBER: Diri's campaign asks police to prosecute 'APC thugs'

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri, has described Saturday’s governorship election as smooth and peaceful.

Diri revealed his thoughts about the poll while speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 4, in Sampou, Kokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to him, the feedbacks from some members of the public indicated that the electoral process had been smooth and peaceful in some areas “although we have received calls on anomalies in some parts of the state.

“We urge the security agencies to be vigilant,” he added.


Jonathan laments late arrival of INEC officials

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has decried the late arrival of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hours after the commencement of the election.

Jonathan, who reportedly arrived at his Polling Unit 39, Ward 13, in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State, at 8.30 a.m., was disappointed not to meet any INEC official but met only journalists observing the poll.

He said: “Are you an electoral officer, where are they?”

“Well this is where I will vote, but since they are not here yet, let me go back inside.

“You see now, youths of nowadays, you need to do more.”


Jonathan’s kinsmen decry late arrival of INEC officials

EKITI ELECTION TRIBUNAL: INEC staff deliberately voided PDP vote –Witness

Residents of Otuoke, Ogbai Local Government Area of Bayelsa, State lamented the late arrival of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hours after the official commencement of election.

Scores of eligible voters have been left stranded as they wait to perform their civic rights in the community with no officials of the Commission available at Otasi ward 13 voting centre.

Despite the delay, residents of the community who trooped out in their numbers to cast their votes conducted themselves peacefully with heavy security presence noticed in the area.


Absence of INEC officials at PDP candidate community sparks apprehension

BAYELSA GUBER: Diri's campaign asks police to prosecute 'APC thugs'

The absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at Sampou community, two hours after commencement of election has caused anxiety among eligible voters who had trooped out to partake in the poll.

The delay is even more worrisome to many in the community where the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri, hails from, with many reportedly expressing their concern about the INEC officials’ late arrival.

The absence of INEC officials in eight polling units of Sampou/ Kalama ward 6, where the PDP governorship candidate is waiting to cast his vote, has been recorded.


No INEC officials, materials at PDP candidate’s community

BAYELSA GUBER: APC not ready for poll, wants to use military, police to write results, PDP’s Diri alleges

About two hours after election was slated to commence, no official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or election material has arrived the PDP governorship candidate, Douye Diri’s community.

Voters in Sampou, the community of the PDP candidate, are worried over the development and wondering why election was yet to commence in their area.


APC thugs hijacking electoral materials -PDP

NBA's fear over insecurity of judges has confirmed our position, PDP says

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) of hijacking electoral materials in Nembe area of Bayelsa State.

In a tweet on its official Twitter handle – @OfficialPDPNig, the party said:

“#BayelsaDecides2019 Bayelsa guber: Reporting live from Nembe, material for ward 8, 9 & 10 have been hijacked to an unknown location by @OfficialAPCNg thugs.

“Electoral officers and some voters were injured/killed.”

The APC had also accused the PDP thugs of shooting and hijacking of electoral materials in Sagbama area of the state.


APC accused PDP thugs of hijacking INEC materials, shooting in Sagbama

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that thugs loyal to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had hijacked electoral materials in Sagbama area of Bayelsa State as the governorship election commenced on Saturday morning.

APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, disclosed this on his official Twitter handle.

He added that the alleged PDP thugs were shooting sporadically in the area.

He wrote: “Material for Ward 3,4,7,9 and 11 have been hijacked to an unknown location by @OfficialPDPNig thugs at Sagbama. Sporadic shooting in the area as well by @OfficialPDPNig led thugs. @inecnigeria #BayelsaDecides.”


Heavy military presence in Brass, Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, others

Situation Room delivers damning report on 2019 polls, says election not free, fair & credible

A heavy military presence has been witnessed in many local government areas of Bayelsa State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state following the killing of a riot police inspector during a clash between thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) at a rally in Ogbolomabiri, Nembe area of the state.

Military personnel have also been deployed to Peretorugbe in Ekeremor local government area, Brass, Nembe, Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor Sagbama, Ogbia, and Kolokuma LGAs.

In Yenagoa, the Nigerian Army has started conducting a stop and search operation to prevent breakdown of law and order following reports that suspected political thugs dressed in military uniforms are allegedly distributing guns to young men to foment trouble during the election.

There have also been reported cases of violence in Nembe, Azuzuma, and Ogbia with people in the communities said to have fled to the forest.


PDP/APC THUGS’ SHOOTOUT: Police inspector dies, 15 others in critical conditions

Violence, protests trail PDP, APC primaries in Benue, Taraba, Imo

A riot police inspector, whose name was not revealed, has reportedly died of gunshot wounds he sustained during a clash between thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) at the venue of the aborted PDP rally in Ogbolomabiri, Nembe area of Bayelsa State.

The body of the police officer had been deposited at the Nembe General Hospital morgue.

While 39 people who sustained minor wound have been treated and had since returned to their homes, 47 are still on admission with 32 of them at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa and 15 in critical condition at a specialist hospital in Yenagoa.

Two policemen were said to be among the persons in critical conditions at the specialist hospital

It was further learnt that several people are still missing since Wednesday when the attack took place.


BAYELSA POLL: Appeal court orders INEC to retain APC, Lyon on ballot

David-Lyon

A Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retain the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, David Lyon, in the ballot for Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The court gave the order following an ex parte motion filed by Lyon’s counsel on Thursday.

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa had on Thursday disqualified the APC candidate from the governorship election after nullifying the party’s primaries held in September.

Two days earlier, another court also disqualified Lyon’s running mate, Biobarakuma Degi Eremienyo, for presenting false information to the INEC.


BAYELSA: Court didn’t stop APC but candidates – INEC

Why we will not act on tribunal judgements now –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday kept Nigerian guessing on the fate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, David Lyon, after declining comments on whether or not he would participate in the poll.

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa had on Thursday nullified the APC governorship primaries held in September and ruled that none of the aspirants should take part in the election.

However, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, told journalists in Abuja later on Thursday that an Appeal Court had granted the party a stay of execution on the matter and would go ahead and feature Lyon as its governorship candidate on Saturday.

The INEC Spokesman, Festus Okoye, who reacted to the development on Friday, said the “court ruling did not say APC (as a party) should not participate in the election.”

However, he did not say if Lyon has been cleared to represent the APC in the election.

He said: “What the court said was that the two candidates are not eligible. But we don’t have candidates on the ballot papers. We only have logos of parties and those are what will be there.”

“APC will participate in the election in Bayelsa State.”


GUBER POLL: Political thuggery, killings in Bayelsa, Kogi disturbing – Jonathan

Don't take out your frustration on me for pointing out your govt's 'gold medal for corruption', GEJ tells Buhari

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described as disturbing signals the political thuggery and killings ahead of Saturday’s governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States.

He decried that political thugs had started violent acts and people were being killed even when the voting process had not started.

One person was reportedly killed during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Bayelsa State on Wednesday.

One person was also killed in Kogi State in October when hoodlums attacked the PDP governorship candidate, Musa Wada’s convoy at Anyigba.

Jonathan, who spoke on Thursday in Port Harcourt at the presentation of a book authored by a former deputy governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby and titled: “In the Cause of Service: Memoir of Gabriel Tamunobiebere George Toby” condemned violent acts ahead of the polls.

He, however, said that such things would not happen had the country got to a point where voter card matters.

He said: “Look at what is happening now; we have governorship elections in two states in Kogi and Bayelsa. The signals coming from both are quite disturbing.

“The use of thugs, shooting guns and our people are already being killed when the voting process has not even started is disturbing. This would not happen if we have got to a point in this country where voter card matters.

“That is why I have always advocated electronic voting. We must go into electronic voting. If people these days can transfer billions of dollars from one bank to the other, using electronic means, then I believe that we can do electronic voting perfectly and that will ensure that the use of thugs during elections would not come up again.”

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