Bayelsa election: CSOs raise alarm over sudden deployment of soldiers to collation centers

A Coalition of Civil Society groups currently in Bayelsa have raised alarm over a sudden deployment men of the Nigerian Army from the 6 Brigade Port Harcourt Rivers, towards the end of the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa. They said they have been authoritatively informed that the soldiers some of whom have just arrived Yenagoa are being positioned to take over the collation centers and headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, in the state capital.


Speaking in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Barrister Atari Emmanuel, the said "The world is watching with breathtaking attention the funny game currently being played by the Nigerian Army, in the ongoing governorship election in the state.

 We are worried that despite aiding thugs across the various local governments, particularly in Southern Ijaw, Nembe and Ekeremor local government areas to unleash terror on innocent voters, the Army is going further, by importing strange soldiers from the 6 division to disrupt the process, a move that may set Bayelsa state on unprecedented crisis that may truncate our nascent democracy if not handled carefully."


"We hereby call on the Federal Government, the media and the international community, who have keenly been monitoring the ongoing election,to immediately halt this satanic move and allow the Nigerian police to complete its role of overseeing the process under a peaceful atmosphere, devoid of the tension being created by these desperate team of the Nigerian army, being led to hijack the election in Bayelsa state, by federal agents, including a serving Minister."


"We also call on Bayelsa state electorate to mobilize and ensure the total protection of their votes at the various collation centers by coming out enmasse from this moment, till the official results are announced by INEC." the statement concluded.