OCAF reaffirms APC’S victory in November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa • Hails INEC decision to stop vote buying

                 By Our Political Correspondent

    A group under the auspices of Ogbia Constituency II Advancement Forum (OCAF) has reaffirmed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, David Lyon and his running mate, Senator (Bishop) Biobarakuma W. Degi-Eremienyo in the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State under free and fair election.

Hon David Lyon                                                                             Senator (Bishop) Biobarakuma W. Degi-Eremienyo

   The National Chairman of the body, Mr Inegba M Genesis made the assertion while unveiling the organization’s assessment report to newsmen in Yenagoa on the support of the APC candidate and his running mate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

   According to the report, the APC candidate has maximum support in Nembe, Brass, Southern Ijaw, Yenagoa and Ogbia Local Government areas; and will also share the votes in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stronghold in Sagbama, Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government areas of Bayelsa State to win the election over-whelmingly.

   The report warned the All Progressives Congress candidate and his running mate to protect their votes against rigging and vote buying because of the level of abject poverty excruciating several families in the state.

  According to the report, the peoples noted that the All Peoples Party (APP) which was later changed to ANPP and now All Progress Congress (APC) is the original Ijaw peoples party in 1998 where all prominent sons and daughters of Ijaw nation like Chief Francis Doukpola and late Chief Pere Ajua amongst others belong to the party before PDP won the 1999 gubernatorial election in the state.

   The report unfolded that the massive support of the APC gubernatorial candidate and his running mate was predicated on the confidence the people reposed in them believing that when given the mandate they will manage the affairs of the state to secure maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every indigene of the state on the basis of social justice, equality of status and opportunity.

   According to the report the people lamented that for the past seven years and seven months the people of the state have been subjected to tyrannical leadership that make life miserable and unbearable for the people; thus against the founding fathers motive behind the struggle for the creation of the state.

  The report asserted emphatically the peoples determination to change the leadership of the state through overwhelming casting their votes for David Lyon, the APC governorship candidate during the November 16 governorship election in order to alleviate the acute suffering of the people.

   The report affirmed that by the victory of APC at the poll the epileptic and perpetual blackout in the state, the high school fees in state government owed tertiary institutions and the poor educational system in the state would be address to make life meaningful for the people.

   The people also believed that the 45 months promotion arrears owed workers as well as gratuity arrears owed pensioners would also be addressed.

  The report commended the decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their patriotism and foresightedness, describing the gesture as a manifestation to vote enmass for APC to salvage the peoples of the state from the shackle of poverty, deprivation and underdevelopment.

  It commended the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmud Yakubu, for its commission’s decision not to condone any act of financial inducement during the governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

  The report also appealed to political parties and candidates participating in the election to shun media campaign of blackmail and calumny during their campaigns but should sell their manifesto to the electorates in order to eschew violence.