Bight News – The All Progressives Congress (APC) have allegedly disrupted the ongoing inspection of election documents used for the November 16th Governorship polls in Bayelsa State.
Pursuant to the order granted by the Election Petition Tribunal for the inspection of Bayelsa election documents as reported by Bight News, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled the inspection exercise to commence on the 11th of December 2019.
A statement issued by State Secretary of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Keku God’spower, made available to BIGHT NEWS on Sunday has it that election documents for Southern Ijaw LGA have already been successfully inspected.
However, while the inspection of the election documents from Nembe LGA today was in progress, APC thugs allegedly led by one Denis Otiotio a prominent APC Bayelsa chieftain and a relative of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Cheif Timipre Sylva, invaded the venue and disrupted the inspection exercise.
The statement reads in parts:
“Sequel to the order granted by the Election Petition Tribunal for the inspection of Bayelsa election documents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled the inspection to commence on the 11th of December 2019.
“Election documents for Southern Ijaw LGA have already been successfully inspected.
“However, while the inspection of the election documents from Nembe LGA today was in progress, APC thugs led by one Denis Otiotio a prominent APC Bayelsa chieftain and a relative of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Cheif Timipre Sylva, invaded the venue with the aim to disrupt the inspection exercise.
“This has led to the decision by both the INEC officials assigned for the task and the PDP inspection team to suspend the inspections for today.” Keku noted.
The statement noted that the order issued by the tribunal on the 9th of December 2019 permits the PDP and INEC officials ONLY to inspect the election materials. Adding that, “it is therefore a violation of the order of the tribunal and outright lawlessness on the part of the APC to disrupt the peaceful exercise.”
PDP called on INEC to ensure that the order to inspect the election materials is enforced.
“The PDP in Bayelsa has called on the tribunal to ensure that the order given to inspect the 2019 Bayelsa Governorship election materials by the PDP be enforced.
“The PDP urged INEC to ensure that the venue of the inspection is secure and free of disruptive elements.” PDP demanded.
