The Director, Media and Publicity, Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation, Chief Nathan Egba, of the All Progressives Congress in today’s governorship election, has accused the state governor, Seriake Dickson, of sponsoring violent attacks on members and supporters of the APC across the state.
He alleged that Dickson imported over 5,000 thugs from Delta and Rivers states to cause violence in the election, adding that the thugs have been terrorising people in riverine communities in the state, scaring them away from the polling units with gunshots.
“The wave of attack has confirmed our fears and alarm earlier raised that Governor Dickson was the one planning to cause violence.
“The affected communities are Oporoma in Southern Ijaw LGA, where the APC State Chairman, Tiwei Orunimighe, hails from; Brass LGA, home of the APC governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva; Ekeremor LGA, home of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; and Nembe LGA.
“In Nembe-Ogbolomabiri on Friday, two APC members were shot and the Military Task Force ordered every resident to go into their houses and remain in-doors.
“In Sagbama Town, headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area, one APC supporter was attacked. Sagbama is the local government of Governor Dickson, who is the PDP candidate.
“In Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government, it took the military to repel the PDP thugs, who had planned to snatch the sensitive election materials. Four persons were reportedly killed in the gun battle.”
According to him, at Odioma community in Brass LGA, Sylva was attacked by PDP supporters on Friday evening. He noted that it took the intervention of the Joint Task Force to repel the thugs and whisk the former governor and his entourage away.
He added that four journalists on Sylva’s campaign trail were missing in Odioma for several hours after the gunshots. It took the efforts of the JTF and local vigilante group to get the journalists out of hiding late Friday night.
He said in Opolo Town, PDP thugs attacked the APC Ward 5 Campaign Organiser, Utovie Egba, with machetes when they prevented APC polling agents from gaining access to the centre.
The PDP had levelled similar allegations against the APC, accusing the party of planning to rig the election and using thugs and soldiers to intimidate and attack its supporters.
“All through the night, APC thugs escorted with soldiers went round terrorising Bayelsans. #BayelsaDecides,” the PDP tweeted around 9:30am today.
It added, “The intimidation of our party agents and supporters that took place in Brass and Ekeremor LGAs this morning is completely unacceptable.”
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