Posted on: 06:30 Fri, 18 Dec 2015



The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has fixed the
supplementary election in Southern Ijaw
in Bayelsa State for January 9, 2016.

According to a bulletin issued by INEC
yesterday in Abuja, the electoral
commission picked the date after a
consultative meeting with leaders of
political parties who fielded candidates in
the December 5 inconclusive
governorship election.

INEC according to the bulletin, stated
that the participants at the meeting
agreed to decentralise the distribution of
sensitive election materials in the
election.

It added that the stakeholders re-
affirmed their commitment to the Peace
Accord signed by all contestants and
political parties in Yenagoa on November
11 for the conduct of credible election in
the state.

“The meeting also called for the
neutrality of the security agencies and
emphasised that the lead agency in the
election should be the Nigeria Police.

“It appealed to INEC to ensure the
functionality of the Smart Card Reader
(SCR) to eschew glitches in the
election,’’ the bulletin noted.

Bayelsa State governor and candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Seriake Dickson confirmed that the
political parties have agreed that the
supplementary election should be held on
Jannuary 9, 2016 to conclude the state
election.

Dickson stressed that the PDP would
work with INEC and also enlighten
Bayelsa people on the need for them to
come out and vote peacefully on the
election date.

“The PDP is ready for the election in the
remaining one local government, perhaps
our strong local government. We are
ready to go.’’

He said that it was not the number of
registered voters that matters but those
who had collected their Permanent
Voters Cards (PVC)and turn out of the
voters on election date.

Speaking in similar vein, the All
Progressive Congress Candidates (APC),
Chief Timipre Sylva, expressed
confidence of winning the state election
when concluded.

He said, “As far as we are concern, we
believe that we have won the election
and we should be declared the winner.

“But if in the wisdom of INEC, it is its
decision we should go for rerun, we are
very ready for the election”.