Breaking News: Southern Ijaw Election Cancelled, Election Declared Inconclusive #BayelsaDecides

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cancelled Saturday’s governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The cancellation by INEC means the elections in the state are inconclusive.

According to the commission, it reached the decision due to violence, abduction of electoral officials and snatching of ballot boxes.

It disclosed that election in the area will be conducted in due date.

Earlier, Prior to the cancellation, Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party was leading in the polls results announced so far.

Protesters besieged Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office calling for the cancellation of election in Southern Ijaw.

Tension gripped Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital as residents waited for the arrival of results of the governorship election from two local government areas of Nembe and Southern Ijaw.

Security was beefed up in the state capital with four Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) deployed round the state collation centre.

Detachment of ant-bomb squad, anti-riot policemen and soldiers took over some strategic areas in Yenagoa to forestall breakdown of law and order.

The Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, was live on the state owned Radio Bayelsa protesting the electoral process at time he was leading APC with over 28,000 votes.