Bayelsa: Accreditation, Voting Fail To Hold In Late Alamieseigha’s Community Over Fear Of Violence

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Yenagoa

The Governorship election taking place today in Bayelsa state, did not hold in Amassoma community in Southern Ijaw council area of the state due to non availability of electoral materials.

When AFRICAN EXAMINER correspondent visited the three polling units in the community, which is also home town of the late ex- governor of the state Dipriye Alamieseigha, it was observed that accreditation did not take place in any of them .

As at 3pm, anxious voters were seen waiting endlessly for INEC officials to arrive with electoral materials but to no avail.

Sources close to INEC, who craved anonymity,told our correspondent that the development followed rumours that some armed thugs have concluded plans to hijack the electoral materials meant for the area, despite heave security presence at the electoral wards.

Some of the National Youth Service Corp NYSC members deployed to the various polling units in the area declined comment on the issue, saying it is only the INEC officials who were nowhere to be seen could speak on the development.

Speaking with AFRICAN EXAMINER, the All progressive Congress APC woman leader for ward 9, Mrs Ruth Egabo, said they will continue to wait for INEC until they come.

She said APC is determined to resist all manner of electoral manipulation in the election.

Also speaking, the special Assistant to Governor Dickson on youth affairs in Amassoma, Ogede Parkis, said they got wind of attacks in some area of the community which led to the unforeseen delay.

He said the party will wait patiently until INEC decides what to do, since the time stipulated by the electoral act has passed.