Rising Anger Over Postponement of LG Elections in Bayelsa

The news about the alleged plans by Governor Douye Diri to postpone the local government council elections scheduled for May 14 2022 has brought rising anger and controversies among political parties in Bayelsa state.

Reports say the planned postponement is based on the advice given to the governor that those to be elected out of the local government polls would not be qualified to be adhoc delegates of his party for the upcoming PDP national convention.

They also claimed that the Councillors and Chairmen that were used during the last governorship primaries that brought in Senator Douye Diri as flag bearer may be more loyal than new councillors elected by May.

According to the political parties leadership under the aegis of the Inter Party Advisory Committee IPAC led by Comrade Brisibe Kpodoh and other stakeholders have resolved to protest the planned postponement through the court.

Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC Mr Sunday Oputu who confirmed the development described the excuse for the planned postponement as ridiculous.

He warned that the political parties would no longer allow caretaker Chairmen into office while the democratic process mandates the governor to conduct local government council elections saying the excuse for the shift is not acceptable.

Mr Oputu also described the excuse as lame and called on the state government to immediately release funds to support the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the local government polls.

He threatened to approach the Federal High Court to seek order baring the local government allocation if the state put off the scheduled elections.

He adds that he is contemplating to approach the Court to halt the House of Assembly from entertaining the screening of caretaker committee Chairmen.