Majority of residents of Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Council of Bayelsa State, and some other communities, have been forced to take refuge in the forests and swamps due to heavy exchange of gunfire by political thugs.

Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief David Serena-Dokubo Spiff, disclosed this at a news conference in Yenagoa on Sunday.

He expressed concern that Sunday’s re-run governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area had been turned into war by agents of desperate politicians.

Spiff said that the party was worried because security of lives and election materials, which caused the shift of the exercise from Saturday, had not been adequately addressed.

“From information, the majority of residents of Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Council and some other communities, are still taking refuge in the forest and swamps as a result of heavy gunfire,” he said.

The party chairman also said that the security situation had been confirmed to be worse in the creeks and other neighbouring communities.

“It is, therefore, our position that adequate arrangements be put in place within the next couple of days to ensure security for voters, INEC ad-hoc staff, including youth corps members and materials,” he said.

Spiff called on security agencies and other stakeholders to consider what he called the party’s “genuine fear, so that the people of Southern Ijaw can freely exercise their civic responsibilities.”

Also speaking, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, National Vice Chairman of PDP, said the delay in the commencement of the re-run election could compromised the result.

“The concern of the PDP is that after the election, who will protect the results? What will happen to the NYSC members collating the results? Are there enough policemen to secure the results? This is the fear of the PDP and that is why we are saying that there is cause for concern in Southern Ijaw Local Government,” he said.

Ojougboh said the party was also worried over the attacks on its members during Saturday`s election in other parts of the state.

•Photo shows Cairo Ojougboh.

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