“Cancel Southern Ijaw Results” – PDP Protesters Defy Police Orders, Storm INEC Office In Bayelsa

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.

Dickson asked residents to hit the streets at 2pm for a rally to protest what was happening at the collation centre and vowed to lead the protest.

 

The Nigeria Police Force had earlier banned any form of procession, rally, protest or demonstration throughout Bayelsa state.

A statement by Deputy Inspector General Hashimu Argungu, on Monday morning, said intelligence available to the police indicated that

“some disgruntled elements” were planning to foment trouble in the form of illegitimate rallies.

Mr. Argungu warned the perpetrators to desist, saying the police was battle-ready to deal decisively with violators of the directive.

The statement was distributed to journalists at the INEC collation centre in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.