Palpable Fear Grips Political Party’s Candidates In Bayelsa *As INEC Pledge To Conduct Credible Election

By Aaron Azi

 Major political contenders of the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa state are just in palpable fear as the new Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), transferred to the state, Barr. Obo Effanga has pledged to conduct credible election devoid of rigging and financial inducement.

Barr. Obo Effanga, REC, Bayelsa State

Barr Effanga gave the assurance on inception to duty during a press briefing on the commission’s plans for the forthcoming election, held at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Media Centre, in Yenagoa.

He directed the governorship candidates to go and lobby the electorates to vote for them as INEC would conduct free and fair election in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) also insisted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed for voter accreditation and transmission of results.

The scenario has made the three serious political party’s ( PDP, APC, LP) flagbearers contesting to win the aforesaid governorship election, intensifying their town hall meetings and lobbying for support in the local government areas of the state.

Our Correspondent reported that the said candidates also are in war of words and counter accusations against each others as the situation is becoming difficult to know who will win the election.

According to our correspondent all efforts to reach the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who pledged to arrange a media chat with the State Chairman of the party to speak on the party’s preparation to win the election proved abortive as refused to pick calls.

Also, efforts to meet with the State Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) too, did not yield positve result as he did not pick our calls.

But, the governorship candidate of the Labour party (LP) who spoke to our correspondent, said his chances to win the election is in the hands of the electorates who have suffered enough.

According to him he would not shed anybody's blood because of power, emphasizing that the people who have suffered enough know who they should vote for.

He pleaded with the electorates to cast their votes for him during the governorship election to curb the unbearable hardship currently prevailing in the state. He declared that he is at the prime age of 47 to pilot the affairs of the state in the interest of all Bayelsans.

He said with his rare wealth of experience and academic background he is prepared to govern the state and offer good governance.

He said, he studied Engineering in the University of Benin and proceeded to AM University of TEXAS where he studied Dredging and Water Technology.

Thereafter, he went to Lagos Business School and studied Skill Acquisition before he proceeded to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies-Kuru Jos where he studied Policy Strategy and Leadership.  

The Labour Party candidate advised the electorates not to sell their votes for money and continue to live in hardship and abject poverty.

Rather, when they bring money they should collect it and vote for him, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate.