BAYELSA State Police Command has warned top politicians in the state against coming to polling units with aides for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 11.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Daniel Sokari-Pedro, issued the warning at a press briefing on Friday, November 10.
“No principal should come to any voting centre with aides. Otherwise, the aides will be arrested, and the principal, if he has no immunity, he will be arrested and treated according to the law,” Sokari-Pedro said.
He also noted that pre-election complaints should not be used as a yardstick in determining the preparedness of the Police ahead of the polls.
“These pre-election complaints should not be used as a gauge to judge Police preparedness, and that should not in any way vitiate the election that has not yet taken place. Whenever such complaints come, we will surely investigate them. But I want to appeal to politicians on all divides that they should stop condemning the Police when the election has not even taken place,” he stated.
The Police chief also warned politicians against making inflammatory statements that could stir up tension in an already tense atmosphere.
“These are statements that are likely to inflame the already tense situation. Even though Bayelsa is a peaceful state, politically, it is a very volatile state. Therefore, these inflammatory statements will just worsen the already tense atmosphere, and at the end of the day, you come and blame the Police,” he added.
The DIG further warned politicians to desist from using fake law enforcement agents, warning that those found culpable would be arrested immediately.
He also urged residents to lodge complaints through the following control room numbers: 07034578208, and 09167322691, while giving assurance of a peaceful election process.
“We are assuring Bayelsans, residents and strangers that the election will be devoid of violence. Anybody threatening peace will be arrested and dealt with. We are not sparing even their principals. If we arrest the aides and the principal is let loose, then what precedents are we setting? Therefore, any unfortunate principal who finds himself in cross line, my advice to you is that you will be arrested,” he said.
Major contenders
There are three major contenders in the poll, including the incumbent governor, Duoye Diri, vying for re-election under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Diri had served as commissioner and legislator under both chambers of the national assembly before becoming governor in 2019.
His emergence as governor followed the Supreme Court’s disqualification of the initial winner of the 2019 elections in Bayelsa, David Lyon, hours before his swearing-in ceremony.
The court ruled that Lyon’s running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, forged certificates submitted to INEC, which nullified the joint ticket with which both candidates contested.
Following the ruling, Diri was sworn in as governor instead of Lyon.
Diri’s candidacy has been challenged in court following a suit stating that his running mate, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, had multiple names without any evidence the said names were all his.
Another major contender in the election is Timipre Silva, former governor and Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In October 2023, Sylva was disqualified from participating in the 2023 governorship elections by the Federal High Court in Abuja on the grounds that he had been sworn in as governor twice.
Sylva was governor of Bayelsa state from May 29, 2007, to April 15, 2008, and from May 27, 2008, to January 27, 2012, when a court sacked him.
At the time of his removal, he was being prosecuted for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who seized 48 houses from him.
Sylva recovered the 48 houses in what was described as a controversial ruling a few days before the APC 2015 governorship primaries.
Sylva’s candidacy has also faced other threats, as his running mate Joshua MacIver has been involved in court cases based on allegations of his previous conviction for murder and terrorism in 2006.
He has recently come under fire for making inciting statements during campaigns in the Twon Brass area of the state, urging his supporters to attack opposition supporters.
“On the 11th, don’t joke with anybody; if anybody misbehaves in Twon Brass, chase away, enter the sea, make him die. Una dey hear? Chase am make him die. After all, he won’t be the first person to die.
“This time around, when we take it (governorship), we are taking it for final,” he said in English and Pidgin.
A third force in the Bayelsa governorship election is the Labour Party candidate Udengs Eradiri. He has served as a commissioner in the state and was the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.