Bayelsa polls: Battle shifts to court as tribunal begins sitting

Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The battle for the 2019 elections in Bayelsa State has shifted to the court as the election petition tribunal in Yenagoa begins sitting on various petitions over the conduct of the 2019 national and state legislative elections.

One of the petitions was received from the candidates of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) in Bayelsa State, Azibataman Johnbull, challenging the declaration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mieteme Obodor, as the winner of the House of Assembly election in Ogbia Constituency 1.

Johnbull had applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the certified true copies of results from the entire Ward 13, where the alleged irregularities took place during the election with army personnel attached to former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly interfering in the voting process and chased away APDA agents from the collation centre.

Other petitions received were from the APC candidate for Baylesa Central senatorial district, Mr. Festus Dumeibi, against the election victory of the PDP candidate, Hon. Douye Diri.

Petitions were also received from the APC candidate for state House of Assembly candidates, Dr. Selekaye Victor-Ben (Constituency 4, Southern Ijaw),  Hon. Leskey Ikengs (Southern Ijaw Constituency 4), Barr. Nathan Aggro (Yenagoa constituency 1) and Mrs. Caroline Jack (Yenagoa 3).

From the PDP, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency filed a petition against Hon. Preye Oseke of the APC.

Also, Mrs. Marie Ebikake of the PDP filed a petition against the victory of the Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli of the APC who emerged winner of the Nembe/Brass federal constituency.

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Bayelsa State, has issued certificates of return to 23 members-elect of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

 The State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Pastor Monday Udoh-Tom, while presenting the certificates return urged them to be better representatives to their constituency in the discharge of the legislative business as they will be only remembered by their constituency for the effective representation of their people while in office.

 Pastor Monday Udoh-Tom further advised them to be magnanimous in victory and work with those that lost the election for the common goals of his people.