……”Excuses by PDP laughabe”–Opposition parties
The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) Dr. Perekeme Bertola has today resigned his position over alleged threat to his life by some unnamed members of opposition parties in the State.
The resignation, which is coming Seventy days to August 10 date, has triggered controversy with some opposition accusing the ruling Party, the Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) of a cover up to the plot of non-conduct of the election.
The former Chairman of the BSIEC, through his media aide, Mr. Tonye Yemoleigha, sited “threats to his life and immediate family” as reason for throwing in the towel.
A source in the commission hinted that the chairman’s resignation may be connected to the fact that “Dr. Perekeme bowed to pressure from opposition parties to have the elections shifted by two weeks.”
According to our source, the shift in the date for the polls allegedly angered some power brokers in the State, who in turn wanted him out of of office by any means possible.
However, the chairman in his resignation letter dated May 31, 2019, thanked the Governor for giving him the opportunity to serve, while expressing hope that his resignation would not affect the conduct of the polls slated for August 10, 2019.
Already, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has accepted the resignation of the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) Dr. Perekeme Bertola.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor thanked Bertola for his services to the commission, particularly for setting in motion the conduct of the August 10, 2019 local council election.
He said regardless of the development, the council election will still go on, as the other members of the commission are in quorum to carry on with the business of conducting a hitch free council polls.
The statement noted that the most senior member of the commission will take charge in acting capacity, pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
The statement expressed shock that members of the opposition will go the length to harass, intimidate and threaten Dr. Bertola and his family all in their desire for him to do their bidding during the council election.
While wishing Dr. Bertola success in his future endeavours, It called on Bayelsans to be aware of the subterranean moves by members of the opposition to scuttle the planned council election, using different crude means but assured they will not succeed.
The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, in his replacement forwarded to the State House of Assembly for confirmation, stated that Hon. Ball Oyarede will replace the immediate past Chairman of the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, BYSIEC, Perekeme Bertola.
The governor’s letter was read on the floor of the State House of Assembly during his emergency session on saturday.
Reacting to the development, the State Chairman òf the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Moses Cleopas, has called on the State Government to ensure the conduct of the local government elections despite threats by elements of the opposition in the state.
Cleopas said in a statement on Saturday that no amount of threats should be allowed to truncate the planned conduct of the local government polls scheduled.
Cleopas said that information at the disposal of the PDP indicated that Perekeme was threatened by members opposition political parties to pull out of the planned conduct of the local government elections.
He stressed that some disgruntled elements in Bayelsa opposition who lack the capacity to win free, fair and credible elections were behind the nefarious plot to prevent the conduct of the local government polls in the state.
The PDP Chairman called on the police and other security agencies to ensure immediate investigation of the threats to the lives of the SIEC boss and his family members by the opposition with a view to bringing thenculprits to book.
He called on the Bayelsa people to be firm and support the free, fair and credible elections being put in place bring in the next elected local government chairmen and councillors in Bayelsa State.
He said, “It has come to the attention of the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party in Bayelsa State that the Chairman òf the State Indepedent Electoral Commission, Dr. Bertola Perekeme, has resigned from his position.
“Investigations our party conducted into this sudden development revealed shockingly that Dr. Perekeme and members of his family were threatened by members of the opposition political parties who lack the capacity to win any free and fair electoral contest in Bayelsa.
“It is on this note that we call on the Government to proceed with planned local government polls designed to bring in Bayelsa’s next party chairmen and Councillors. It would be sad to accede to the criminal intent of these characters.
“We hereby call on the police and other security agencies to investigate this audacity being exhibited by criminals masquerading as politicians with a view to arresting them for prompt prosecution.
“As a party, we are preparing for the election with the intent to win. Only the unpopular and those with evil intent would be against the conduct of free and fair polls at the local government level in the state.”
Some members of the opposition parties under the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) , who reacted under condition of anonimity, described the “excuses of threat to life by opposition parties” put forward by the immediate past Chairman of the Bayelsa State Indeoendent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) as laughable.
According to the CUPP member, “the excuse is laughable and the PDP should come out with the truth that the raging internal war among members of the ruling party is responsible for the shift and resignation of the umpire.They should name the opposition parties responsible for the threat. “
Kindly contact us @ Naijalivetv@gmail.com
Call or Whatsapp: 07035262029, 07016666694, 08129340000
