Voters from the 105 wards of Bayelsa state have declared their readiness to stand together against the alleged plot by some chieftains of the opposition to instigate violence and rig the November 11 governorship election in the state.

According to a cross-section of voters, despite their desire to encourage a massive turn-out of voters and fair electoral processes for the poll, the alleged plot by loyalists of the opposition to cause violence and use parallel security agents during the poll would be resisted.

A voter from Southern Ijaw, Bolou Israel, expressed regrets that persons in the opposition had devised strategies to orchestrate violence and insecurity to rig the poll which they would fight against with vehemence.

Israel said to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated: “We have resolved to ensure that a proper democratic process is followed and that the opposition parties cannot force themselves on the people if they are rejected.

“All we hear from their people is that we know Douye Diri is doing well, he has done a lot of projects to deserve re-election. However, they sing it everywhere and they will write the results as if we are in a zoo country. How do you achieve that in this modern age?”he asked.

Also speaking, Sinivie Akenge, from Yenagoa, the state capital argued that the forthcoming governorship election was critical to the development of Bayelsa State, noting that the state was making steady progress and that anyone plotting violence to divide and cause problems was an enemy to the people.

Akenge said: “We are calling on the international community to beam its searchlight on Bayelsa. The opposition candidate is allegedly drumming songs of war. All they are telling their supporters is that they want to win by any possible unconventional means. The security agencies must be on red alert and the people must stand strong to allow proper voting. We will defend our votes.”

On her part, Janet Tonworio frowned at certain statements credited to the candidate of the opposition that the state owed him a second term and so, this election was revenge.

Tonworio made it clear that the opposition should simply present its candidate to the electorate and that the people would assess his previous outing as a Governor almost 12 years ago and the recent public service experience as a minister on how those offices impacted the lives of the people.

“This election is clearly between the incumbent Governor and Chief Sylva of the APC. One thing is sure, you can only rig where you are popular. Bayelsans have long rejected the opposition candidate. We hear he is coming for a revenge mission against those who allegedly stopped him in 2011. This is 12 years later, he is still bitter. Bayelsa must stand strong.

“They want to preload BVAS and compromise INEC. The federal might not work, the President is a known Democrat of many years of standing. Our former President recently said that if you want to govern us, present yourself, and if the people like you, they vote for you and if they reject you, you go back to your house or you go and do business,” she said. (The Nation)

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