As the governorship election holds in Bayelsa State today, there was uncertainty on Friday in Yenagoa, the state capital over the whereabouts of the former governor of the state.

He had instituted litigations against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, over the primary election that produced the standard bearer of the party on November 19, 2011.

Sources claimed that Sylva had left for South Africa to evade possible arrest by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption charges.

But a close confidant of the ex-governor said he was indeed in Abuja taking a deserved rest after serving the people.

At the moment, his former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Charles Opuala, is standing trial in an alleged money laundering case instituted by the EFCC against him and some other senior public officials of the Bayelsa State government.

When contacted, the media aide to the embattled former governor, Mr Doifie Ola said “there is no restriction to his (Sylva’s) movement as far as the Nigerian Constitution is concerned.

“As I speak to you, he is a private citizen and he has the absolute right to his movement. I really don’t understand why there is much interest in his whereabouts. Is there a law that requires him as a private citizen to report his movement to anyone?”

On whether his principal was still in the country, Ola simply stated that “He [Sylva] is a private citizen and he has the right to his movement”.

Nonetheless, security inside the Yenagoa metropolis and suburbs was tight, with several checkpoints mounted to frisk motorists ahead today’s pol.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, affirmed that his command had enough manpower and material combination to ensure a hitch free election.

A visit by Saturday Tribune to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the indicated that materials for the election arrived in vans as early as 10am on Friday.

Officials of the commission were seen offloading the materials, in cartoons from Hilux pick-up vans into the stores inside the INEC office.

Stern-looking riot policemen were also spotted mounting security around the office, situated beside the State Government secretariat complex annex, in the state capital.

The road leading to the office was cordoned off by operatives, as vehicles and motorcyclists were not allowed to pass through, just as adhoc staff member of the electoral body, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), besieged the main gate.

Some of the polling officials posted to the riverine communities were given life jackets, with a view to ensuring safety on the waterways.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment