The Bayelsa State local government election conducted on Saturday by the State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) was relatively peaceful across the eight local government areas and 105 wards of the state, according to reports.
Besides voter apathy, voting materials and personnel of the BYSIEC were said to have arrived late in Yenagoa, Sagbama, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, Nembe, Brass, and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas (LGAs).
However, the major opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) shunned the council poll.
It was gathered that a skirmish occurred in Sagbama LGA where the Labour Party chairmanship candidate, Timi Ogosi, was slugging it out with his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Alice Allen.
Some hoodlums were said to have hijacked electoral materials meant for Wards 6, 7, 11, 13, and 14 in the Sagbama LGA.
But the state governor, Douye Diri, described the election as peaceful after casting his vote along with his wife, Gloria, at their Kalamaoweiwari Unit 4, Ward 6 in Sampou community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
Speaking with journalists, Diri lauded the BYSIEC for the proper handling of the council poll and expressed optimism that his party, the PDP, would sweep the poll.
He said, “The PDP enjoys the support of the people, and judging from the outcome of the November 11, 2023 governorship election, our party will still take the upper hand.
“As you have seen, the voting process was peaceful and seamless and l think if this is the way it is in every other unit and ward, then we expect a peaceful and successful local government election to usher in a new leadership at the third tier of government.”
Also, the deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the PDP was on the ground and would win the council poll.
Describing the electoral process as peaceful, Ewhrudjakpo, in an interview with journalists shortly after voting at his Ward 2, Unit 6 in Ofoni community, Sagbama LGA, observed that the electoral umpire however had a challenge with logistics.
He said, “But for sure, you know that Ofoni is PDP, and the whole of Sagbama is PDP. You are also aware that in the last governorship election, it was only in Sagbama (LGA) that APC did not get up to 25%.
“So, we don’t expect anything different from that. The voting will be going on. I just cast my vote. The process is going on fairly, squarely, and transparently”.
