Seven Killed in Bayelsa Council Poll

Seven persons have been confirmed dead in the local government elections held in Bayelsa State on Saturday. According to reports, the seven persons died during clashes between political groups in Ekeremor local government area of the state when voting had not started.

The state Police Commissioner, Elder Onouha Udeka, said the killings were as a result of cult clashes in Ekeremor. In most of the local government areas visited by Sunday Sun, there was general apathy as voters stayed away from polling booths.

At noon, election materials had not left the Bayelsa State Election Independent Commission (BYSIEC) office, fuelling speculations that the outcome of the election had been determined in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Although the governor, Timipre Sylva, had met with party chairmen at the Creek Motel ahead of the election to avoid violence, this did not prevent crisis as factions within the PDP clashed over the election.

The violence in Ekeremor, sources said, has its roots in the power tussle between the deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, and Sylva. The materials meant for Nembe local government area reportedly fell into the river when the boat conveying it capsized. The electoral officers however escaped unhurt.
In Sagbama Local Government Area, several people waited in vain for materials to arrive.

In nearby Amassoma, about one hour drive away from the state capital, voting did not start until well after 11am.
The BYSIEC Commissioner (Public Affairs), Mr. Tom Egba, told newsmen at the commission’s zonal office in the state capital that he had just finished dispatching materials to the field. He however declined to comment on the incident in Ekeremor and the reported late voting in most local government areas.

“I will officially move out to see things for myself. It is a rumour I cannot confirm because I’m not in Ekeremor, but I have received unidentified phone calls from people in Ekeremor. You can see there is no social disorder. Yenagoa is peaceful. There has been no hijacking of materials,” he said. At the time of filing this report, the results were being collated at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Yenagoa amid tight security.

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