Chaos and unrest has taken over the INEC office in Bayelsa state after All Progressives Party faithfuls stormed the office challenging the decision cancelling the poll result for Southern Ijaw.
Angry supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday staged a massive protest at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital over the cancellation of Southern Ijaw poll.
The irate protesters made up of youths, men and women trekked about four kilometers to the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Swali Road causing traffic holdup, the Punch reports.
They were not allowed to enter the INEC office as the entrance was barricaded by vigilant policemen who were on guard to prevent any escalation.
They accused the State Resident Electoral Commissioner of fraud, saying he subverted the collective will of the electorate. They said the REC cancelled the Southern Ijaw election, which results had already been collated, remaining to be announced because Sylva won in SILGA by a landslide.
They vowed that hell would be let loose if the INEC failed to announce the poll results as they were and return Sylva as the Governor-elect of Bayelsa.
The protesters were unanimous in the request: “INEC, give us our votes in Southern Ijaw and declare our leader and candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, the Governor-elect. ”
The protesters said INEC must declare Southern Ijaw results or also cancel the results of Ekeremor, Sagbama and Yenagoa, which they claimed were marred by extreme violence and irregularities. The protesters further demanded the sacking of the REC, Mr. Baritor Kpagih, alleging that he was a bad influence and election rigger.
Speaking on the behalf of the protesting party faithful, chieftain of the APC, Mr. Famous Danaumougha, said they had come to send message to the commission that election was conducted in Southern Ijaw and that the results should be announced.
“The REC was too much in a hurry to cancel that election. If it had been the Returning Officer, we would not have raised eyebrow. The REC was so biased. We demand the announcement of that result,” he said.
He said their appeal was very simple, the results should be announced to avoid escalation of crisis in the state.
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