Bayelsa election: Dickson asks INEC to cancel election in Nembe, Southern Ijaw

- A statement from the Bayelsa government has called on INEC to cancel the election in some parts of the state

- The state governor, Seriake Dickson claimed that the election was characterised by brigandage, hijacking of electoral materials and personnel

- Dickson claimed some rogue elements in the Nigeria Army connived with the APC thugs to perpetrate electoral fraud

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has called for the cancellation of the election in parts of the state where the exercise was characterised by violence and other irregularities.

The governor asked INEC to particularly cancel that of Nembe local government, The Nation reports.

According to him, thugs were sponsored by pipeline surveillance contractors, Mr Gabriel Jonah and one Kodjo Sam.

He said: “I call on the Chairman of INEC to issue an order cancelling the process in all the wards, in all the local government areas affected, in all the wards and units, where materials have been stolen or hijacked, where officials have been kidnapped and held hostage to enable the APC cook up non-existing figures.”

Dickson accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government of planning to foist a one-party system on the country.

He claimed that rogue elements in the Nigeria Army connived with the APC thugs to carry out electoral fraud in some parts of Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor and Ogbia and the state capital, Yenagoa.

According to him, materials meant for Eniwari community, Opuama ward, most locations in Southern Ijaw were hijacked.

“As everyone knows, the APC has no foothold in Bayelsa to win an election but they have an armed militia, surveillance contractors who kill and maim for the APC. They also have the Nigerian Army and rogue elements of the Police Force working in concert with them to deny the citizens of these communities their right to vote," he added.

The Bayelsa governor called on President Muhammadu Buhari to wake up and take action. He also called on the Inspector-General of Police to direct all the security operatives to protect the people of Bayelsa.

"What is going on in Bayelsa in the name of election is not a democracy," he stated.