APC, APGA Agents Keep Vigil in Bayelsa INEC Office
Scores of agents of the major opposition parties in Bayelsa State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), on Thursday, besieged the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the arrival of sensitive election materials for this Saturday, state House of Assembly poll.
The deployment of heavily armed mobile policemen to condone off the INEC office and protect the sensitive election material did not dissuade the party agents from mounting vigil at the Commission’s office.
The APC and APGA leaders, at separate media interactive session, raised the fear of alleged plan by the PDP to rig the elections.
But the authorities of the Bayelsa State Police Command, assured all political parties of adequate security that will discourage any plan to rig the elections in the State.
According to the Police, in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Command, ASP Asinim Butswat, the command has beefed up security with increased vehicular and foot patrols, as well as intensive surveillance in all nooks and crannies of the state.
The police called on all political parties and their contestants to desist from any act capable of disrupting the elections process, “they are advised to abide by the peace accord they had earlier signed and comply with the regulations guiding the election process”.
“The Command in collaboration with other security agencies has synergized to create an enabling environment for the forthcoming House Assembly election. Security agencies have been ordered to enforce the restrictions of movements of boats fitted with two hundred (200) horse power engine and above, and all river craft activities in the state waterways, from 7 pm to 7am of Friday 10th to Sunday 12th April respectively.
“Any person or group of persons, who violates this order, will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly. Likewise, movement of persons, motor vehicles and tricycles will be restricted on the election date, from the hours of 8 am to 5 pm, only those on essential duties will be allowed to move. The electorate are advised to come out and exercise their franchise by casting their votes for candidates of their choice.”
