PDP clears Bayelsa LG poll

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend won all the eight chairmanship positions and 105 councillorship seats in local government elections conducted by the Bayelsa Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC).

The main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the poll held a few months to the November 16 governorship election in the state.

Returning Officers from the eight local council areas took turns to declare the results of the election at the BYSIEC collation center at the Yenagoa City Council.

The results showed that Diepreye Ubarugu of the PDP polled 42,539 votes to beat other contenders to emerge Chairman of Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA while Dr. Bertola Perekeme scored 62,529 to clinch that of Ekeremor.

Also, Alali Embelakpor was declared winner of Sagbama Chairmanship election with 96, 468 votes and Kia Nigeria topped other candidates with 107,150 votes to win in Southern Ijaw.

PDP’s candidate, Victor Isaiah, was declared winner of Brass after scoring 28,667 votes while Ebinyo Turnah won Ogbia with 17,661 votes.

In Nembe, Alalibo West son with 54,562 votes while  Oropaye Nimizua became the Major of Yenagoa City-elect with 89,831 votes.

Chairman of BYSIEC, Chief Remember Ogbe officially declared the eight PDP candidates as new Chairmen of the eight Local Government Councils.

Bayelsa State Governor,  Seriake Dickson, described the local government council election in the state as peaceful, free, fair and credible.

But Dickson, who spoke shortly after casting his vote at Oruere-wari polling unit 05, ward 2 in Toru Orua, Sagbama local government area of the state, said over 30 political parties participated in the exercise.

The governor said contrary to concerns raised about the council election in the state,  security reports indicated that the exercise was peaceful and hitch-free.

He expressed satisfaction at the large turnout of voters and urged the electorate to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner in electing candidates and parties of their choice.

The governor recalled the boycott of the council poll by the APC but noted that over 30 political parties contested the exercise and expressed optimism that the election would end  peacefully.

He said: “Report from the security commanders across the state has given me the overview which does not indicate any major concern.

“Our hope and expectation is that this exercise will end peacefully just as it has started on a peaceful and orderly note.

“The major opposition party in the state on their own decided to boycott the election but there are still over 30 political parties that presented candidates for the election and so it will be a contested election.

“But at the end of the day, i call on all persons to vote according to their conscience in an orderly and peaceful manner.”