The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Baritor Kpagih, who announced the cancellation of the election in the area, told newsmen and observers, who had waited for hours at the collation centre, that a date for a fresh election in the council would soon be announced.
Southern Ijaw Local Government Area has 120,827 registered voters, the highest in the eight council areas of the state.
Kpagih said there were reports that the poll in the area was “substantially” marred by violence, ballot box snatching and hostage taking of electoral officers.
The state REC’s pronouncement came immediately after the state Returning Officer, Prof. Kpazia Akpagu, told newsmen and election observers that he would not be able to take a final decision on the exercise until the result of the Southern Ijaw election was received.
“We have yet to receive results from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. They (Southern Ijaw LGA) have 120,827 registered voters. As a result of this, I, as the Returning Officer, cannot return on this election until the results of this local government (Southern Ijaw) are received,” he said.
The REC stated that he was, on behalf of INEC, cancelling the election in order to protect the integrity of the election process.
Akpagu added, “You will recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission conducted governorship election in Bayelsa State on the December 5, 2015. The commission announced that the poll should be discontinued in some local government areas, including Southern Ijaw LGA of the state.
“As of today, December 7, 2015, the results of the election in all local government areas, except Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, have been collated.
“Reports on the election conducted in Southern Ijaw LGA on December 6, 2015, revealed that the election was substantially marred by violence, ballot snatching and hostage taking of electoral officers.
“These include reports from political parties, observers, both local and foreign, among others. These fall short of international acceptable standard for credible elections.
“Consequently, the commission has decided, in the interest of the integrity of the process, to cancel the governorship election in Southern Ijaw LGA. A new date for Southern Ijaw governorship election will be announced in due course.”
Before the announcement, the state REC and some top security officers had held what was tagged ‘a security meeting’ at the INEC office in the state capital over the situation in Southern Ijaw.
INEC had earlier announced the results of the election in Nembe and Ogbia LG areas, leaving the PDP candidate, Seriake Dickson, with 105,748 votes while his closest rival, Timipre Sylva, got a total of 72,594 votes.
But the results from seven local government areas which were declared, were not enough to declare the incumbent governor the winner of the election due to the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw, which has 120,827 registered voters.
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