Bayelsa political parties to sign peace accord today ahead of December 5 governorship poll

POLITICAL gladiators in Bayelsa State have moved to ease the tension across the state in the run-up to the forthcoming December 5 gubernatorial elections with Governor Seriake Dickson and his predecessor Chief Timipre Sylva agreeing to sign a peace pact along with the other candidates.

 

Over recent weeks, the political tension in the state has been heightened as Governor Dickson's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) which is fielding former governor Sylva have been at each other's throats. In a bid to douse the tension, the candidates of the 20 political parties participating in the poll have agreed to sign a peace accord in Yenagoa today.

 

Convened at the instance of Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the meeting is to extract the commitment of the parties and their candidates to a peaceful poll devoid of rancour and bloodletting. Already, former governor Chief Sylva visited Toru-Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area, the home town of Governor Dickson to canvass for votes over the weekend and the event passed peacefully.

 

During the visit, the community treated Chief Sylva to a colourful reception to show their hospitality. Likewise, the same treatment was accorded to Governor Dickson and the PDP when they visited Okpoama, the home town of Chief Sylva to campaign.

 

Timidi Wariowei, the head of Inec's voter education department, said that that the commission had already notified all the political parties to come along with their governorship candidates to sign the peace deal. He added that the majority of the parties have indicated willingness to be part of the historic event.

 

Mr Wariowei said: “Due to the importance the commission attaches to a peaceful election, the acting chairman of the commission, Amina Zakari will personally come to Bayelsa State to witness the peace deal. Also expected at the event are the state commissioner of police, the director of the State Security Service, the heads of other security agencies, traditional and religious rulers, leading civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders.”

 

Architect Miebi Bribena, the Sagbama Local Government coordinator of the Sylva/Igiri campaign team reminded the people of Toru-Orua that although Governor Dickson may be their brother but that former governor Sylva is their friend, insisting that a good friend is better than a bad brother. He commended the people of Toru-Orua for the warm reception given to the APC and Sylva/Igiri campaign train.