On Sunday, hundreds of indigent youths from the 105 wards of the 8 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa State asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the office of the Inspector-General of Police to review its strategy for the January 9th supplementary election in Southern Ijaw and other units of the State.
On Sunday, hundreds of indigent youths from the 105 wards of the 8 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa State asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the office of the Inspector-General of Police to review its strategy for the January 9th supplementary election in Southern Ijaw and other units of the State.
According to the Ijaw Youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Youths for Democracy, the review of strategies for the January 9th election must include the re-deployment of the duo of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Baritoh Kpagih, and the State Commissioner of Police.
According to the group, though the security and election strategies may have been adopted,such strategies will not work without the Bayelsa REC and Commissioner of Police over their alleged partisan roles in the cancelled polls in some parts of the State.
The group,in a statement signed yesterday in Yenagoa by its National Coordinator, Mike Olomu, said that the redeployment of the Bayelsa REC is based on his recent confession and allegation of attempted bribe to manipulate the cancelled election against one of the leading political party. Meanwhile, the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police is based on his alleged compromise by the ruling party in the state and refusal to provide proper security which led to widespread attacks against members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group conducted a study of several reports on the conduct of the election in Southern Ijaw.
"We have studied the various reports on the conduct and cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw and other units. We have also studied reports and statements arising from major players in the election. And we have discovered that the January 9th election will not be successful,free and fair,if the Bayelsa REC and the Police Commissioner are allowed to stay," the statement read in part.
The group accused the police commissioner of working with Governor Seriake Dickson to undermine the security of Southern Ijaw.
"In order to forestall a repeat of last political quagmire as a result of the inconclusive status of the election, there is an urgent need to effect these recommendations so as to guaranteed a hitch free election on Jan 9th 2015. Or else the reverse will be the case," the group concluded.