What can be regarded as an unfolding drama is currently being experienced in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state, as we count down to the state gubernatorial rerun on January 9.
READ ALSO: Bayelsa Election: Declare Me Winner Now, Dickson Tells INEC
Following media reports (Not Naij.com) that Governor Seriake Dickson allegedly beat Chief Remember Ogbe, the chairman of the Southern Ijaw local government area, reactions from the council chief himself has been reported.
Dickson was accused by the All Progressives Congress (APC) of descending heavily on Ogbe for failing to ensure his victory at the December 5 and 6 governorship elections in the local government.
According to the reports, Dickson allegedly invited Ogbe to the government House in Yenagoa and reportedly descended on him.
But in a swift reaction after Governor Dickson had denied assaulting Ogbe, the council chief himself as described the report as wicked and malicious, The Nation reports.
Southern Ijaw LGA Boss, Chief Remember Ogbe Denies Alleged Beating Suffered In The Hands Of Dickson
Chief Ogbe said nobody ever attacked him, stating that the story of attack on him was a figment of the imagination of the opposition concocted by the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, to smear the democratic credentials of Governor Dickson with the target of tarnishing the governor’s hard-earned reputation as a non-violent politician.
He said: “The good news is that Bayelsans cannot be swayed by the APC propaganda because the public knows that Sylva and the promoters of APC in the state are merchants of violence while Governor Dickson and PDP have in the past three years restored peace and prosperity to our people.
“As the supplementary election in Southern Ijaw draws closer, the APC is getting more desperate in their sinister bid to capture Bayelsa by hook or crook.
“However, I’m confidence that PDP will win Southern Ijaw because the people of Bayelsa in general and Southern Ijaw in particular have rejected Sylva and APC.
“I wondered why the APC would claim that the governor was angry for losing election in his council when there was no election at all in the first place.
“Southern Ijaw was riddled with violence and turned to a theatre of war by the APC. Election materials did not get to the polling units, INEC officials were kidnapped and these were the reasons why INEC cancelled the process and fixed January 9, 2016 for the election. So, how could the governor be angry with me for not delivering? This is the height of APC desperation and the discerning public must be weary of them.”
However, Chief Egba, the director-feneral of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation, in his reaction to the denial by the council boss, stood by the earlier statement, adding that the organisation would produce about three eyewitnesses if the need arises.
Chief Egba said: “We have been told that the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Council, Chief Remember Ogbe, has denied being beaten to pulp by the serially violent Gov. Seriake Dickson following the PDP’s disastrous outing in the cancelled re-run election in Southern Ijaw Local Council.
“Our response is simple. If he is sure that he was not beaten byanybody, let him come out publicly to deny it on television so that cameras can show his face and other parts.
“We know of a fact that all these denials are being issued from the Bayelsa government House Press Office while Chief Remember Ogbe is on his sick bed.
“It is more than two weeks now that Chief Ogbe received the Governor’s beating. This is no lie at all and not political either, but to draw attention to the character of the man who is seeking the mandate of the people.
“Let us recall that Governor Dickson recently met with various stakeholders from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, including the traditional rulers, chiefs, political appointees and youth groups. Chief Ogbe could not attend any of the meetings because of the injuries inflicted on him by the desperate governor.
“For the records, the APC flag bearer, Chief Timipre Sylva, has nothing to do with the story; rather, it was the numerous eyewitnesses, including some close associates, who broke the news because of their unhappiness with the goings on in the government House.
“We have also promised to provide at least three eyewitnesses, who are willing to stake everything, to confirm this story.”
READ ALSO: Bayelsa Poll: Concede Defeat – Dickson To Sylva
Following indications that the political arena was thickening with hate and indifference in Bayelsa state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) moved swiftly to nullify the governorship election in the region.
According to INEC, the election was nullified due to violence, abduction of electoral officials and ballot box snatching in Southern Ijaw local government area.
However, results already announced have it that the PDP’s candidate Governor Seriake Dickson is clearly leading in the poll.
He has so far won six of the seven local government areas announced by INEC and has picked up 105,748 votes, while his biggest rival, Chief Timipre Sylva of the APC has secured a total vote of 72,594.
The post Drama In Bayelsa As Dickson Allegedly Beats Council Chief To Pulp, Read What Ensued appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.
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