Dickson, Sylva make final moves to win Southern Ijaw

 

Dickson, Sylva

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Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Ahead of Saturday, January 9, 2016 rerun election in Bayelsa State, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Seriake Dickson, and his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Timipre Sylva, are making final moves to win the poll.

In the rerun, which will produce the eventual winner, the candidates of the two frontline political parties, will contend for no fewer than 100,000 votes in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and 101 polling units across six LGAs in the state.

In the seven out of the results of eight LGAs declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the incumbent governor, Dickson, polled 105,748 votes as against former Governor Sylva’s 72,534, indicating that Dickson is ahead with 33,214.

Based on records from the Independent National Electoral Commission, SILGA has Permanent Voter Cards collection of about 70,000, while the accredited votes of the 101 cancelled polling units are slightly above 30,000.

The INEC had cancelled Southern Ijaw poll over alleged widespread violence, ballot snatching and hostage taking of electoral officers and employees.

With the cancellation, electoral body declared the governorship election in the state inconclusive and a new date, January 9, has been slated for the rescheduled poll in SILGA and the 101 units.

As the rescheduled election draws near, Sylva, who is trailing behind Dickson, is poised to secure an overwhelming victory in SILGA and the units to upturn the majority advantage of the PDP.

Sylva, who spoke through his campaign outfit, Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation, said he was confident of victory because the people of Southern Ijaw would vote en masse for him.

The former governor said, “We rely on the people because the people are our strength.

Therefore, what we are trying to do once again, is to renergise and reassure the people.

“We want to tell them that in spite of all the talks, especially concerning violence and all that transpired and with all the threats from our opponents, they should not be afraid to come out in the rerun.

“Because we need the number in order to overturn the majority advantage the PDP already has, it is very critical for us to ensure that the people come out.

So, what we are doing now is engaging the stakeholders, leaders of the various  communities and various wards to get them to encourage the people to come out on the election day so that the people will vote for the APC.

“They should know that the more people that come out in Southern Ijaw the better our chances of getting victory over the PDP and the incumbent governor.

“Beyond that, there are also other areas election will take place. There are over 100 polling units across the state in other local governments.  We are also hoping to tap into those other opportunities to be able to help us to overturn the PDP majority.”

Sylva said he hoped the security agencies would create a level playing field for all, noting that the APC was seriously disadvantaged during the last time.

The APC candidate added, “We are also hoping that this time around, the security agencies will not only promise but will actually ensure that they create a level playing field for all the candidates.

“Our fear is born out of the fact that last time, we were seriously disadvantaged because some of the security agencies actively and openly worked against us in favour of our opponent.”

But Governor Dickson said Sylva was daydreaming, saying that he had lost the election ab initio.

He said going by voting arithmetic, the trend of voting and fear of mayhem giving experience of December 6, he doubted if the turn out of voters would be up to 40 per cent of votes  recorded in other LGAs during the poll.

He, therefore, wondered how Sylva thought he could win after losing abysmally in six LGAs and with deficit of over 33,000 votes.

The governor, who spoke through his campaign outfit, the Bayelsa Restoration Campaign Organisation, said SILGA is the stronghold of the PDP and that the party would sweep it on January 9.

He, however, appealed to the security agencies and the electoral umpire to give all the candidates level playing field during the rerun.

Dickson urged Sylva to swallow his pride and accept defeat, saying that even him (the former governor) and his party knew that the election in Southern Ijaw is a mere formality.

The governor said, “Going by the voting patterns in the state it is clear that election in Southern Ijaw is a mere formality. The election has already been won by the PDP and lost woefully by the APC.

“The Southern Ijaw is the stronghold of the PDP. Former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of his blessed memory was from Southern Ijaw. Also, Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, Chief of Staff, Government House, Talford Ongolo,  member representing SILGA in House of Reps, Mr. A. Daniel, are all from the area. If election is conducted in SILGA 100 times, I will win.”

He said the PDP had done exhaustive campaigns, reached out to different groups such as elders,  youth, women and men were for the PDP and had vowed to vote for the PDP.