On December 5, Bayelsans went to the polls to elect a new governor, in what was a straight fight between Governor Dickson of the People's Democratic Party and his predecessor Chief Timipre Silva of the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has declared the polls inconclusive due to discrepancies with polling in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
According to the figures from the other seven local government areas so far declared by Inec, Governor Dickson has 105,748 votes compared with 72,594 for Chief Sylva. A supplementary election has been organised for January 9 in the contested local government area in what has now become a winner-takes-all do-or-die affair.
Bayelsa political insiders say that Governor Dickson was so infuriated by the botched polling in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area that he invited Chief Ogbe to State House in Yenagoa, where he gave him a good beating. Although Chief Ogbe has debunked the reports that Governor Dickson physically attacked him, the APC is claiming the assault did take place.
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In a statement issued from State House, Chief Ogbe described the report of his alleged assault as wicked and malicious, adding that it was the handiwork of the APC and its governorship candidate, Chief Sylva. He added that the APC was getting more desperate in its bid to take over Bayelsa State by hook or crook.
Chief Ogbe said: “Southern Ijaw was riddled with violence and turned to a theatre of war by the APC. Election materials did not get to the polling units, Inec officials were kidnapped and these were the reasons why they cancelled the process and fixed January 9, 2016 for the election, so, how could the governor be angry with me for not delivering?”
However, Chief Nathan Egba, the director of media and publicity of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation, has dared Chief Ogbe to publicly deny the alleged assault. He added that while Chief Ogbe was still nursing his wounds, Governor Dickson, through his Government House press unit, was issuing statements for the chairman.
Chief Egba said: “Our response is, therefore, simple as we are also very convinced that Chief Ogbe is a Christian. If he is sure that he was not beaten by anybody, let him come out publicly to deny it on television so that cameras can show his face and other parts.
“It is embarrassing to note that these denials were issued from the Bayelsa Government House Press Office, while Chief Remember Ogbe is still on his sick bed. It is more than two weeks now that Chief Ogbe received the governor’s beating."
He added that recently, Governor Dickson met with various stakeholders from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, including the traditional rulers, chiefs, political appointees and youth groups. However, Chief Ogbe could not attend any of the meetings because of the injuries inflicted on him by the desperate governor.
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