Bayelsa Election: Anxiety As Douye Diri, Sylva, Eradiri Set To Battle For Votes Amid Security Concerns

The off-cycle governorship election scheduled in Bayelsa State tomorrow is causing much anxiety among Bayelsans. The election is being seen as another litmus test for the nation’s fledgling democracy under the new administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The November 11 poll is also a source of concern for many people as there is fear that the election may be marred by violence, fraud, and other electoral malpractices. There have been speculations of political parties playing politics of division and creating a tense atmosphere in the state.

Also, the presence of security personnel is causing unease as people fear their rights and security may not be respected. Naija News reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under immense pressure to ensure the election is conducted freely and fairly.

The media is also closely monitored to ensure only balanced and unbiased reportage is aired. The people of the oil-reach state are hoping for a peaceful and credible election that will help restore their faith in the nation’s democracy.

Nembe and the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area are both areas of concern due to the potential for violence in certain parts of Bayelsa State. It is essential to keep a close eye on these regions.

Previous Incident

On the eve of the governorship election in Bayelsa State in 2019, a tragic incident unfolded at the Okolomabiri community in Nembe Local Government Area.

A group of armed individuals, on November 13 of the reported year, forcefully disrupted a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally, targeting innocent party supporters. Tragically, three lives were lost in the chaos, including Simon Onu, a dedicated driver employed by Radio Bayelsa, a prominent media house.

It has been alleged that the assailants responsible for this heinous act were affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), further deepening the political tensions surrounding the upcoming election.

Concerns Among Political Parties, Electorates

The PDP recently raised the alarm regarding the reported homicide in Opu-Nembe Community within the state. This incident occurred before the upcoming election, where the incumbent Governor, Douye Diri, a candidate of the PDP, will either be re-elected for a second term or face rejection by the voters.

“The PDP is alarmed by pictorial and video evidence of the gruesome murder of promising Nembe youths, including the only son of a widow, by the APC thugs,” the spokesperson of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

The claims, however, could not be independently verified by Naija News as of the time of filing this report.

Candidates For Bayelsa State Off-Cycle Election

INEC had announced that about 1,056,862 registered voters are expected to decide the fate of 16 governorship candidates fielded by different political parties in the state.

While the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Udengs Eradiri, is among the top candidates for the off-cycle election, the Bayelsa election is believed to be a two-horse race between Governor Diri and a former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva.

Recall that Sylva, a few months ago, resigned as the Minister of State for Petroleum to seek a second term as governor.

Sylva is going into the election as the candidate for the nation’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bayelsa is speculated to be plagued by poverty, environmental deterioration, inadequate infrastructure, lack of progress, and high unemployment rates despite its abundant oil and gas reserves.

Various organizations, such as the election observer and monitoring group YIAGA Africa and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have expressed worries about the insecurity prevailing in the state.

Additionally, the non-partisan community organization Bayelsa Mandate Group has sounded the alarm regarding the “existence of political hooligans” in Bayelsa communities prior to the election.

Security Concerns Despite Assurance By Agencies

There are serious concerns that the Bayelsa election may face additional threats beyond the typical election violence, such as kidnap-for-ransom and militancy, which are often linked to the Niger Delta region.

Before now, a former governor of Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson, claimed that the 2019 election in the state resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals, primarily members of his political party, the PDP.

INEC, Security Agencies Allay Fears

Recently, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, convened a meeting with National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and service chiefs to address the imminent security threat in the state.

During the meeting, Ribadu assured INEC that the security agencies were committed to providing all necessary support to ensure smooth governorship elections in the three states, including Bayelsa.

To emphasize the seriousness of the security situation, Mahmood also held a meeting in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, with members of the state chapter of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, with security as the main focus of discussion.

Recognizing the volatility of the Bayelsa election, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, issued a warning to criminals and political thugs, stating that the election would not proceed as usual. Egbetokun further mentioned that the police had already begun deploying officers to Bayelsa and would complete the deployment by Friday.

The mobilization of troops to Bayelsa has been initiated by the Nigeria Army, as stated by Major General Jamal Abdusalam, the General Officer Commanding of the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt. This action aims to guarantee that the residents of Bayelsa can freely exercise their right to vote for their preferred candidate without any concerns of intimidation.

“If troublemakers feel they have two heads, then they must make ready the second head because the first head will surely be taken off,” Abdusalam said on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in a statement.