Bayelsa Poll: Dickson Retains Seat …Wike Congratulates Gov …PDP, Others React

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike (right), in a handshake with the Chairman, Nigeria Legion, Rivers State, Col. Wilberforce Josiah (2nd left), at the Inter-denominational Service to mark the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, yesterday.

Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party has been declared winner of the controversial Bayelsa State governorship election.
Dickson was declared winner of the election after he polled 134,998 votes, 48,146 votes more than his closest rival, former Governor, Timipre Sylva of the All Progessives Congress.
The Returning Officer of the election, Zana Akpagbu, returned Dickson as winner of the election, saying he had satisfied all requirements.
He said that, “Dickson Henry Seriake of PDP having satisfied the requirement of the law and secured the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner of the election.”
In all, there were 225,527 valid votes; 6, 647 rejected votes, while the total votes cast were 232,167.
Dickson, who secured the most votes in the December 5, election had also led Sylva in the supplementary election.
Dickson, who secured the most votes in the December 5, election, polling 105,748 votes, compared with the APC candidate’s 72,594 voted, also led in the supplementary election.
In the rerun, which took place in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and 102 polling units across six other local government areas of the state, Dickson got 29,574 votes, while Slyva polled 14,258 votes.
The supplementary election had become necessary following the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state as a result of widespread violence.
The violence had prevented voting from taking place in the LGA along with others on December 5 and a rescheduled poll held in council the next day was cancelled on December 7 due to irregularities and violence.
More than a month later, violence threatened the rerun despite assurances by security agencies that adequate preparations have been made to make it hitch-free.
Ahead of the rerun, in the early hours of Thursday, there was a bomb attack on the house of the Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson, in Korokorosie, Southern Ijaw LGA.
Although voting commenced peacefully in several polling units on Saturday, as of midday, there had been several reported incidents of violence with electoral materials yet to arrive at some polling units.
Our correspondent reported that there was difficulty in conveying electoral materials from Amatoru Community School to polling units because of heavy shooting in the area.
He also reported that there was sporadic shooting in Amatolo, a riverine community in Southern Ijaw LGA, a development that prevented INEC officials from getting materials to the area.
In Agoibiri, two people were reportedly hit by stray bullets while angry youths destroyed electoral materials at some units.
Around 9:30am the Situation Room, a coalition of civil society groups, reported that voting was disrupted by violence in Otuokpoti Ward, Ogbia.
The Peoples Democratic Party also accused thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress of disrupting election in three polling units – 6,7 and 10 – in Biseni.
The substantive election in the state was held on December 5, 2015 but INEC declared the election inconclusive after it cancelled the poll in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area following reports of widespread electoral malpractices and violence.
INEC subsequently fixed January 9, 2016 for supplementary elections in the affected local government and 101 other polling units in 7 local government areas where elections did not hold on December 5.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that the re-election of the Bayelsa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Seriake Dickson is a victory  for  democracy  in the face of unrelenting external forces. In a congratulatory message to the Bayelsa State Governor, following  his re-election  at the conclusion  of  the  supplementary governorship  election,  Governor Wike  said  that  the  will of the  people  of  Bayelsa State has prevailed as they have resolved  to remain with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
A statement issued by  the Governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu,  pointed out  that  the  people  of  Bayelsa State exhibited the true Niger Delta  spirit which abhors oppression and injustice.  He said  that with the re-election  of Governor Seriake Dickson,  a clear message  has been  sent to the dark forces of rigging  and electoral manipulation  that they will never find accommodation  in this geo-political zone.
Governor Wike specifically  commended the good people  of  Bayelsa State for being vigilant all through  the governorship election process, saying  that their hard work and dedication  to  the  enthronement of democracy have been rewarded by the re-election  of a true Niger Delta  patriot.
The governor stated that the people of the Niger Delta remain dedicated  members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because  that is the only political  platform  that gives Niger Delta issues the priority they deserve,  while the others are only interested in the  pecuniary benefits  which flow from the area.
While rejoicing  with Governor Dickson,  the Rivers State Governor expressed confidence  in  the  ability  of  the  Bayelsa State Governor to consolidate  on the democracy dividends which he availed the Bayelsa people during his first term.
In the same vain, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the people of Bayelsa State for their support for its candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson, which led to his victory at the just-concluded governorship election in the state.
It however expressed sadness over number of those who lost their lives during the election.
“It’s painful that this victory has come with so much pain because we lost dear ones. Those who died are our brothers. So many are yet in the hospitals nursing life threatening injuries because our opponents wanted to win at all cost. We wish to express our deepest condolences once again and to assure them that their death will not be in vain”, it stated.
The party stated this through the Director of Publicity, Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent governor winner.
He thanked the people for renewing Dickson’s mandate for another four-years, attributing it to the “resilience and uncommon courage” of the people.
Obuebite who noted that the victory was important because it came the way of the PDP even in the face of intimidation, tyranny, threats and violent attacks, added that “despite the challenges, democracy won.”
He said, “We want to use this opportunity to sincerely thank all Bayelsans for their doggedness and patriotism because even in the face of such terrible intimidation and violence decided, out of their own volition, they came out to re-elect and return the Countryman Governor to office for the next four years. We are grateful for your remarkable decision as expected in a democracy.
“The people have spoken and we are indeed grateful. It’s your victory, you the good people of Bayelsa State. Without doubt, a new dawn is here. Bayelsans, through their uncommon courage have defeated tyranny and oppression by voting for the continuation of the restoration of our dignity and pride as amply demonstrated through their votes.”
Similarly the Peoples Democratic Governors Forum has hailed the people of Bayelsa for standing firm against brute force and terror unleashed on them in the concluded supplementary election in Southern Ijaw and 102 polling units on Saturday by the APC-led regime.
In a statement signed by Earl Onaiwu, coordinator of the forum, after Governor Seriake Dickson was announced winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission late Sunday night, the governors said that but for the resilience and determination of the people, the APC was inordinately out to capture the state as if it was a trophy of war.
“The PDP Governors Forum wishes to commend the good and great people of Bayelsa State for standing resolute, firm and immoveable against the desperate attempt by the APC-led regime to hijack the mandate of the people of Bayelsa state.
“It is unfortunate that a party that came into office through a free and fair process offered by an incumbent have neglected to imbibe democratic tenets by engaging in thuggery and outright violence as if the state is a trophy of war.
“The Bayelsa election is a wakeup call to all Nigerians to reject any extra constitutional means by which the APC intends to cling to power.
“We call on our members in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Edo states to brace up in the coming days and show that the PDP is indeed the custodian of democracy as it has done for the past 16 years.
In another development, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekit State has hailed the re-election of the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, describing it as a demonstration of the resolve of Bayelsa people to choose their own governor and resist imposition of a governor on them by the powers that be in Abuja.
The governor, who described the people of Bayelsa as “worthy heroes of democracy that stood their ground against agents of darkness that were prepared to short-change them by imposing a governor they do not want on them,” said Governor Dickson’s victory was another vindication of his prediction on 20 things to expect this year.
Governor Fayose said in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka that it was shameful that several people were killed in an election in Bayelsa State with eight Local Government areas in which more than 20,000 security personnel, including soldiers were deployed.
“If the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not conduct a free and fair election in just eight Local Governments in one month, one wonders how long it will take INEC to conduct the president election that will be held in 774 Local Governments in 2019,” the governor said.
He lamented that the legacy of free, fair and credible elections bequeathed on Nigeria by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan was already being destroyed by the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government owing to the APC’s desperation to take over all States in the country by crude means.
“The people of Bayelsa have shown that their power is more than that of the Abuja political oppressors. They have shown that tyranny can be defeated through the collective will of the people.
“I congratulate Governor Dickson for this sweet victory. I salute Bayelsa people for standing firm against terror. I sympathise with families of those that were murdered and I urge Nigerians to take note of the systematic destruction of democracy by the APC government in Abuja,” he said.
Also, Senator Ben Bruce representing Bayelsa East constituency, in Bayelsa State, has congratulated Governor Seriake Dickson over his re-election as the state governor.
Dickson, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner of the poll by the INEC REC, after polling  134,998 votes, beating his main challenger, Timipreye Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 86,852 votes.
In his congratulatory message on Twitter, Bruce said: “Congratulations @iamHSDickson. Those who got there through free and fair elections could not use #DoOrDieElections to remove you!”