Inec officials held hostage as they distribute election material for Bayelsa governorship poll

SEVERAL Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) staff have been held hostage in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where they have been deployed to distribute election materials in today's gubernatorial polls.

 

Bayelsans go to the polls today to elect a governor in what is a two horse race between incumbent Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Inec staff sent to distribute materials to Sagbama, the home of Governor Dickson, were held hostage when they arrived this morning.

 

Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Inec's director of voter education and publicity, said they were confronted by gunmen when they arrived at the local government headquarters. He added that another team was held hostage as they made to distribute materials and security agents have been contacted to help rescue them.

 

Mr Osaze-Uzzi said: “We are asking that a gunboat be sent to the place immediately. If necessary, they will have to be evacuated and brought back to Abuja.”

 

Argungu Hashimu, the deputy inspector-general of police overseeing the election, said the police were on top of the situation. He added that they are on the ground and are getting on with the job of securing the Inec's staff release.

 

Earlier this week, the Bayelsa State commissioner for information, Esuene Kikile, said that armed thugs attacked PDP leaders and supporters in Okpoma community in Brass Local Government Areas. He added that the former chairman of Brass Local Government Area and two special advisers to Governor Dickson were among those that were attacked and some have machete cuts and one victim is in hospital.

 

Also, Nathan Egba, the APC's publicity secretary in Bayelsa State said that gunmen attacked Chief Sylva and three journalists yesterday night in Odioma, also in Brass Local Government Area. However, it is believed that the journalists were later rescued by soldiers.

 

As the situation gets tense, there are indications that the outcome of today’s governorship election may go a long way in determining the future political relevance of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan. An indigene of Bayelsa State from Ogbia Local Government Area, Dr Jonathan was defeated at the last presidential election by President Muhammadu Buhari but he is keen to keep the PDP in power in his home state.

 

It is believed that for the years he was away in Abuja, Dr Jonathan did not do much to transform his local Ogbia Kingdom. Many local people argue that the only road leading to their council headquarters in Ogbia main town is riddled with potholes and he could have used his position to influence the development of the area and also empower his people.