Bayelsa Governorship Poll Can’t Pass Credibility Test – TMG

Last Saturday’s inconclusive governorship election in Bayelsa State cannot pass credibility test, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has said.

The TMG, however, hailed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the rescheduled election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area; results of the remaining seven LGAs have been collated and announced.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja to present TMG’s preliminary observation of its 300 observers, Chairman of the group, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said that the security agencies disappointed Nigerians by their conduct during the election.

“The Bayelsa State governorship election, no doubt, was a very bad election and doesn’t have the minimum test of any credible election. Every aspect of the process was characterized by harassment and intimidation. For us, it is not an election that can pass a credible test.

“In Southern Ijaw, INEC team couldn’t move their materials because they were held hostage. There were gunshots and many people, including journalists were chased into the bush by political thugs. There was no way election could have taken place.

“We support the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw based on what happened”, Zikirullahi said.

The TMG regretted that the incident happened despite series of reports it lodged with security agencies, three months before the governorship election.

Advertisements