Bayelsa election: Chief Timipre Sylva takes case to Tribunal

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in the Bayelsa State governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva have rejected the results declared by the Collation/ Returning Officer, Prof Zana Akpagu. This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commended its supporters while asking for investigation into the killings.
Findings indicated that the APC leadership in the state and ward agents are compiling evidences while discussing with its lawyers in preparation to challenge the results at the election tribunal.
Sylva, at a press conference he addressed yesterday in Yenagoa, decried what the alleged collusion between the PDP and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to skew the results against the party (APC).
According to him, the party had complained to the appropriate quarters over the unholy alliance between two senior INEC officials in Bayelsa State and the PDP, but all the complaints were not attended to and the said officials were allowed to handle the election.
Sylva, who said he and the party would seek re- dress, warned against violence by members.
“The election from the beginning was skewed against APC. All places APC won were cancelled. We did not have a free and fair protest. The cancelled votes were over 53,000 which was higher than the difference between the results declared for both the PDP and the APC, yet, the Returning Officer declared the result which have been announced, but as a party, the result is clearly unacceptable. Let me put it on record that our members should keep calm. On no account must any APC member take laws into his/her own hands” he said.
Sylva said there was a desperate move by INEC to declare Dickson winner in the election which he said made them not to pay attention to constitutional requirements.
“The accord between PDP and the INEC in Bayelsa which was set up as PDP rigging machinery made INEC to want to declare Dickson as governor. How can you explain that materials meant for far places were not sent on time, while materials in polling units in near places were the ones sent earlier. The agenda of the PDP was to frustrate election in Southern Ijaw because they were having the lead. They just wanted election to hold in few places to maintain their lead while in APC’s stronghold, they cancelled the elections there”
On reports of post-election violence, he accused gunmen of attacking the house of the APC state agent as well as a supporter in Nembe.
“As far as I am concerned, this senseless violence must stop,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PDP’s National Working Commit- tee (NWC) has commended its supporters for ensuring victory for Governor Seriake Dickson in last Saturday’s supplementary poll.
Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus, in a statement, thanked the people for their resilience and steadfastness.
The statement reads in part: “The national leader- ship of the Peoples Democratic Party and indeed, all lovers of democracy, salute the people of Bayelsa State for standing against intimidation, rigging and violence to ensure that their will as a people prevailed in Saturday’s supplementary election.
“In fact, the steadfastness and resilience shown by the people, particularly in Southern Ijaw will go down in history as one of the many sacrifices made to defend democracy in the land.
“Bayelsa is a core PDP state and one wonders how APC thought it could win in this gubernatorial election with its candidate, knowing the strength and popularity of our great party in the state, in addition to the record of achievements of our candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson.
“The PDP, however, decries the desperation of the APC whose thugs and compromised security operatives openly engaged in violence resulting in the killings and maiming of innocent Bayelsans. We hereby demand a comprehensive inquest into the killings and that all perpetrators be brought to book.
Finally, the PDP congratulates Governor Dickson for his well-deserved victory and statesmanly handling of the situation in the face of provocations,” he said.