PRESS RELEASE – Call for Peaceful and Credible Governorship Elections in Bayelsa State

The Ijaw Elders Forum Lagos in collaboration with Ijaw Professionals Association, Ijaw Nation Forum, Ijaw Women Connect and Embassara Foundation wish to call on the good people of Bayelsa State to exercise their civic responsibility by voting the next Governor of the state through a peaceful and credible process on Saturday the 16th of November 2019.

Alarmed at the recent turn of events on Wednesday 13th November 2019 at Ogbolomabiri, despite the workshops we organized on Peaceful and Credible Elections and affirmations by major political stakeholders we wish to call on INEC to suspend elections in any ward where political violence occur in the days leading to the elections or threatens the peace during elections. We condemn in very strong terms the violence and loss of lives experienced in Ogbolomabiri on the 13th of November 2019.

We wish to also call on INEC to reject results from any ward or local Government Areas with reported cases of violence, ballot box snatching or rigging.

Accepting results and declaring same from wards where violence or other election malpractices are perpetuated will be tantamount to incentivizing violence and malpractices during elections.

We would like to use this opportunity to draw the attention of The Nigerian Human Rights Commission and other relevant institutions of the state to the violence that occurred in Ogbolomabiri. The incident should be investigated and the perpetuators and their sponsors brought to book.

We call on INEC and all relevant institutions of the state to maintain neutrality during the elections and ensure peaceful and credible elections as the people of Bayelsa State troop out on Saturday to elect their Governor.

Efiye Bribena

Secretary Ijaw Elders Forum Lagos

For and on Behalf of the collaborating organizations