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Sylva Accuses PDP Of Plotting Violence During Bayelsa Elections As Tensions Continue To Rise

On Wednesday, the former Governor of Bayelsa State and the candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC), Timipre Sylva mocked Governor Seriake Dickson, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, over the alleged plot to disrupt the January 9th supplementary election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) and the other 101 units.

On Wednesday, the former Governor of Bayelsa State and the candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC), Timipre Sylva mocked Governor Seriake Dickson, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, over the alleged plot to disrupt the January 9th supplementary election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) and the other 101 units.

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Mr. Sylva’s accusations come amidst fears that tensions are rising in Bayelsa State as the supplementary election approaches. A war of words has emerged between the two candidates with both accusing the other of fomenting violence ahead of the supplementary polls.

Earlier this month SaharaReporters published a story regarding Governor Dickson’s claims that the APC was attempting to use the security services to rig the supplementary elections.

As tensions continued escalating on Tuesday, the PDP reported that several gunboats of armed men stormed the Peremabiri Community in Southern Ijaw LGA which were claimed to be sponsored by the APC.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, Mr. Sylva stated that intelligence reports gathered by the APC noted that there were indications of the stockpiling of dangerous arms. The purpose of this weapon stockpiling, according to Mr. Sylva, is the disruption of the Southern Ijaw LGA supplementary elections.  

“Therefore, the PDP government knows it is on its way out and are plotting to perpetuate violence in Southern Ijaw LGA.

“Governor Dickson has shown that his desperate accusations against the APC are actually plots set in motion by the PDP,” Mr. Sylva explained.

However, Mr. Sylva has yet to provide copies of these intelligence reports to the media with specifics about the threats APC agents found.

Continuing his attacks upon Governor Dickson, Mr. Sylva accused the governor of fabricating reports about APC-led violence in Southern Ijaw LGA.

“All the problems that Mr. Dickson is crying about ahead of Saturday poll are in his head, hence, he needs to have his head examined, ” Mr. Sylva stated.

The former Governor expressed misgivings about the redeployment of State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Baritor Kpagih, claiming that local representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are corrupted by the PDP.

“The manner in which INEC in Bayelsa State was constituted by the outgoing President [Goodluck Jonathan], was designed to deliver the State to the PDP,” he stated.

These accusations have raised fears that the violence witnessed in Southern Ijaw LGA during the December 5th elections will be repeated this Saturday.