#BayelsaDecides2023: LP’s Udengs Eradiri Arrives Polling Unit, As INEC Officials Yet To Arrive Sylva’s PU

The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the ongoing off-cycle governorship election in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri,  has arrived at his polling unit to vote.

Eradiri arrived at his polling unit at Ward 10, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa, at about 9:10 am.

Naija News reports that while voting has commenced at PU 39, Ward 13 in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials are yet to distribute materials to polling units in Okpoama community, Brass LGA, where Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, is expected to vote.

Also, electoral officers are just about to head to their respective polling units at Agudama Epie RAC centre as of reporting time.

I’m Not Worried About Betrayers – LP’s Eradiri

Earlier, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, reacted to the defection of six local government chairmen of the party.

Naija News reported earlier how six out of eight local government chairmen of the party dumped Eradiri on the eve of the election over the alleged exclusion of the party executives and structure in the governorship campaign.

The leaders also claimed that Eradiri deliberately refused to inaugurate the campaign council but appointed only a two-man campaign structure, which he used as mere errand boys.

In a statement issued in Yenagoa on Friday, the party leaders said Eradiri shunned several invitations to appear before the party’s State Executives and advice on needed synergy with party officials.

The party chairmen include Super Kworkwor (Yenagoa), Ifiemi Ilahnyog (Southern Ijaw), Clinton Naru Emesua (Ogbia), Tamuno Deifugha (Kolokuma/Opokuma), Warri Moses (Sagbama) and Appi Ebierelayefa Stephen (Nembe).

Reacting to the allegations in a chat with Daily Trust, Eradiri said he was not worried about the party leaders’ defection, labelling them as “betrayers who can trade anything for parochial gains.”

He also alleged that the aggrieved party leaders decided to dump him after collecting N100m from the state governor, Douye Diri, ahead of the election.

“I don’t know how to do party politics; it is so unfortunate that Bayelsa is in this state,” he said.