President Goodluck Jonathan has blamed the low turn-out of voters

in yesterday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State on the controversy that surrounded the emergence of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

While acknowledging the low turn-out, he noted that uncertainty had trailed the election following unconfirmed media reports that a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo had granted the prayers of one of the participants, Chief Kenneth Gbalikumo of the African Renaissance Party (ARP).

Okorowo clarified on Friday that he did not give an order stopping the election from going ahead, saying he merely gave order of service on the necessary parties to the suit in which Gbalikumo sought to stop the election on the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to comply with relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2010 as regards the time of notice for election.

The president lamented that up till Friday, majority of the people in the state were confused over the authentic candidate for the PDP, due to litigations instituted in court.

“For the presidential election, Nigerians in diaspora came home and they all voted. General elections always attract that kind of crowd. You know that in Bayelsa, there had been a kind of challenge as to who the candidate was and who was not the candidate up to yesterday.

“The people of Bayelsa were confused as to whether elections would go on or whether it would not go on. I am a senior member of the PDP and I am hopeful that Dickson wins the election,” he said.

Accompanied by his wife, Patience, the president was accredited around 10.00 a.m. at Otuoke, his home, and he cast his vote at 12.45 p.m.

While monitoring the election, Sunday Tribune observed that it was generally peaceful, but there was low turn-out of voters.

At Otuoke, the accreditation of voters, which was scheduled for 8.00 a.m. did not commence until 10.00 a.m., just as majority of the people who should participate in the exercise were seen engaging in socio-economic activities.

At the Otazi Playground in Otuabula Ward (four), Ogbia Local Government Area where Jonathan, his wife and other close family members voted, only 124 persons were accredited at the unit that has 875 registered voters.

In Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas, the turn-out of voters for the election was very poor, just as independent election observer informed Sunday Tribune that some underaged voted in Odi, which is under Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

The story was not different in the hometown of former Governor Timipre Sylva, Okpoama, in Brass Local Government Area of the state, as voters stayed indoors while electoral officials were kept waiting.

Both the former governor and his wife, Alayingi, were not present in the community to vote.

However, in Toru Orua, village of the PDP governorship candidate, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, in Sagbama Local Government Area, there was large turn-out of voters as the villagers in the riverine community filed out in large number to exercise their franchise.

There was also large turn-out in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

Dickson, who cast his vote around 12.40 p.m., in company with his wife, Rachel, and aged mother, described the exercise as peaceful and encouraging, just as he commended the villagers for coming out enmasse to perform their civic responsibilities.

He said he had just witnessed the most peaceful election in Bayelsa State.

“We have just witnessed the most peaceful election in Bayelsa State today (Saturday). Everything went orderly. The materials arrived on time and everybody has been orderly. Everyone is going about his or her duty and collation is about going on now,” he said.

When asked how hopeful he was about victory, he said, “certainly, we are hopeful of a resounding victory.”

Also, chairman of the PDP Campaign Caucus and former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Matters, Mr. Timi Alaibe, who voted at Opokuma in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, said victory belonged to PDP.

However, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], identified as Tustom Ogai, was allegedly shot dead on Friday at Obirigbene in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The assailants were said to have taken to their heels immediately they killed him.

Investigation conducted by Sunday Tribune indicated that the corpse of the victim was conveyed from the local government to Yenagoa on Saturday by the National Youth Leader of the ACN, Comrade Ebikibina Miriki, who deposited it at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre.

Confirming the killing of the ACN member on Saturday, Miriki said the police had instructed the family of the victim to report the incident at the police station in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area for proper documentation.

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