Bayelsa Decides: INEC Officials Held Hostage As APC Alleges Plot To  Relocate Collation In Brass

By Akinwale Kasali

There is crisis in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in the ongoing Off Season Governorship Election in the State, following allegations by the All Progressives Congress, APC, against the incumbent Governor, Duoye Diri and his Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of influencing the relocation of result collation centre from Brass LGA to Yenagoa, the State Capital.

As a result, Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in LGA, are reportedly held hostage by party Officials and supporters.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in a statement on Sunday, alleged that Diri was putting pressure on officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to dance to his tune.

Morka condemned the brazen effort of the PDP to manipulate the results, saying that, “INEC must stand its ground and collate the votes of Brass LGA in Brass as mandated by law before moving to Yenagoa for the final State collation.”

The statement reads:

BAYELSA GUBER POLL: APC CONDEMNS ATTEMPTS TO MOVE COLLATION OF BRASS LGA TO YENAGOA

“Our attention has been drawn to brazen efforts by Governor Duoye Diri and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unlawfully and unduly pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move collation of results of Brass Local Government Area to Yenagoa, the State capital.

“Brass, remarkably, is a major stronghold of our great party where the people have voted massively for our candidate, Timipre Sylva. The move is a calculated attempt to manipulate the result of the votes in favour of the PDP.

“INEC must stand its ground and collate the votes of Brass LGA in Brass as mandated by law before moving to Yenagoa for the final state collation.

“We also vehemently condemn Governor Diri’s fervent incitement of violent protests at the Peace Park in Yenagoa. This is utterly irresponsible and a violation of his oath of office as Governor. The people of Bayelsa deserve to vote and have results of the election declared in peace and safety. Governor Diri must stand down on his attempt to set Bayelsa state ablaze and uphold the important duty of his office as the Chief Security Officer of Bayelsa State”, the statement reads.

It was however gathered that following this development, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  have been held hostage by political party members and voters in Brass Local Government Area.