Bayelsans reacts to call for INEC to shift November 2 governorship election
Some political parties and prominent people of Bayelsa State, the core of the Niger Delta region and the homogenous state of Ijaw people, on Tuesday, reacted against Governor Henry Seriake Dickson call, urging the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmud to shift the governorship polls scheduled to hold in the state on November 2 this year.
 |
| Professor Yakubu Mahmud, INEC Boss |
 |
| Governor Henry Seriake Dickson |
Expressing their opinions to Global Overseer against the call to shift the date, parties and the people described the call as political gimmick, ill-motivated and not necessary, throwing their weight behind the November 2 date INEC had fixed to conduct the election in the state.
According to them INEC is the constitutional umpire to fix dates for elections in Nigeria and wondered why an individual will call for shifting the date already fixed by INEC, emphasizing the need for all stakeholders and the electorates to abide by that date fix by INEC.
The parties and the people maintained categorically that any new date that will be fix by INEC will not be acceptable, pointing out that all what the people want from INEC is to conduct free and fair peaceful election to pave way for the people to elect the governor of their choice in order to address the alarming rate of underdevelopment, abject poverty, mass unemployment and economic hardship occasioned with the misery and squalor bedeviling the people of the state.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its Secretary, Mrs Rose Oriaran Anthony had fixed the date for Bayelsa state governorship election on November 2.
But Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in his own opinion expressed on the monthly praise night and the 8th edition of the Easter Cantana programme in Yenagoa, called for the shift in the date of the governorship poll in the state because it coincided with the Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Day and urged the Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmad, to show respect for God by shifting the date of the election.
According to the Governor November 2 is a public holiday backed by the laws of the state as a “Thanksgiving Day” and it has been celebrated with prayers since 2012.
But, reacting to Governor Dickson’s call, a foremost Bayelsa State statesman and Ijaw leader, former President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), the apex Ijaw Cultural Organization, Professor Kimse Okoko called on the Independent National Election to conduct the election in the state as scheduled. Professor Okoko described the call to shift the date for governorship election of the state as sad, and there are no bases to call for the shift.
 |
| Top left, Professor Kimse Okoko, right, Mr. Ebitimi Amgbare, second row left,His Highness Okpoebi Righteous Gwegwe, Ogiligba I of Atissa Kingdom and the APC Publicity Secretatry, Mr. Doifie BouKoribo . |
According to him in his words “there is no seriousness” we are just deceiving ourselves with God. How can a man call for a shift of the date fix by INEC, the constitutional body to conduct elections in the country.
He restated his desire that INEC should conduct the governorship election in the state as scheduled. Prof Okoko added that we should not deceived God with our personal opinion over shifting dates for election, INEC should go ahead with the conduct of the election in the state to elect our real peoples oriented governor for the state.
Also in his opinion, Mr. Ebitimi Amgbare, the Governorship candidate under the platform of the Action Congress in the state governorship election held in 2007, throw his weight behind the date fixed by INEC to conduct the Bayelsa State Governorship election on November 2.
He alleged that any attempt to shift the date is irrelevant and a rape to democracy. According to him, INEC is the umpire to fix date for elections and described the call to shift the election as very unfortunate and call for change of heart.
He used the forum to call on the state government to fix a new date for the Thanksgiving Day so that after the elections everybody will turn out in their large numbers to participate in the Thanksgiving Day.
Commenting on the issue also, the state chairman of the Save Nigeria Congress (SNC), His Highness Okpoebi Righteous Gwegwe, Ogiligba I of Atissa Kingdom and a two times governorship candidate in the state wants INEC to adhere strictly to the November 2 date for governorship election in the state.
According to him the Thanksgiving Day should be shifted to another date convenient to the government of Bayelsa State. He added that INEC as the constitutional body authorized to conduct election in Nigeria everybody should comply with that date and prepare for the election like his party.
Speaking on the issue also, the Bayelsa State Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) , Mr. Doifie BouKoribo has said that the date fixed by INEC for the governorship election in the state remains sacrosanct.
According to him INEC is the Electoral umpire to fix date for election, saying that the date cannot be changed by an individual opinion, pointing out that his party APC is fervently prepared to win the election on November 2 and enjoined anybody having contrary opinion on the date fixed by INEC to abide by it and prepare for the election.
Expressing his opinion too, the Acting State Vice Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state Mr. Amadi Allen described the call to shift the accepted date fixed by INEC to conduct the governorship election in the state as uncalled for and undemocratic.
He said that his party will on Friday this week come out with his formal position against the call to shift the date of the governorship election as it is preparing fervently to participate actively in the election.
On his own opinion, Professor T. T. Isoun has said that he has no comment on the issue. He added that all what Bayelsans want is peaceful and credible election. According to him whatever date that is fix for the election he accepted it.
But, speaking in support of Governor Dickson’s stance, the member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2 and the member elect for third term under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Monday Edwin Bolou O, has thrown his weight behind the call to shift the governorship election date in Bayelsa.
He pleaded with INEC to shift the election as appealed by the Governor of the State.
Also speaking in favour of the call to shift the November 2 governorship election date in Bayelsa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religion Matters, Pastor S. S John Peters said that he is one hundred percent in support of Governor Dickson‘s call to shift the date of the Governorship election in the state, adding that conducting election on that date is like breaking the state covenant with God and expressed confident that INEC is reconsidering to change the date.
 |
| Left,Hon Monday Edwin Bolou Obolo and Pastor S. S John Peters |
According to her, the Commission in the State is not aware of another date to shift the Bayelsa governorship election.
Post a Comment