Bayelsa Governorship Election Was ‘Very Peaceful’, No Shooting – NSCDC

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has said that Saturday’s governorship election held in Bayelsa state was ‘very peaceful’.

This was declared by NSCDC Assistant Commandant General (ACG) Mr Ideba Pedro, who lead a monitoring team for the election while speaking with newsmen at Fankuku Primary Health Centre polling unit in Epie III, Amarata, Yenegoa.

Pedro explained that his team from the National Headquarters, Abuja, had monitored many polling units and reports from the situation room also indicated that the election had been peaceful.

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“The electoral process today is very peaceful, if there is any rumour of shooting it is not to our knowledge.

“The turn out is very encouraging. As you see the crowd here and the electoral process is going on peacefully.

“The people of Bayelsa are exercising their franchise and there is no molestation. The roads are free because vehicular movement restriction is enforced by security agents on duty, ” Pedro said.

Speaking on the working relationship among security agencies on the election duty in Bayelsa, Pedro, who said it was very robust added that the corps was yet to see any incident of vote-buying.

“For us as security agents, we have been moving around and we have not witness anywhere there is vote-buying, except you have any to tell us,” he said.

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In contrast to what the NSCDC official had said, about three persons have been shot and stabbed at Opolo Ward 5 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State during Saturday’s poll by suspected political thugs.

Those injured had been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa for treatment.

This led to a peaceful protest against an alleged invasion by party thugs who invaded various polling units carrying dangerous weapons and shooting sporadically.

Various placards being carried are with various inscriptions, which read, “No elections in Ward 5.” “Federal Government, Come to our aid,” “We have been denied our rights to vote in Ward 5.” among others.

Meanwhile, the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson, has not been able to vote as his polling unit in Toru-Orua in Sagbama Local government area, was submerged by flood. An ad-hoc arrangements were made for him and his wife to vote.

After casting his vote, Dickson complained of reported cases of violence in some parts of the state.

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