Bayelsa LG Elections: Student On Election Duty Dies, As PDP Scores Imaginary Votes Amid Widespread Voter Apathy

Tragedy stuck in Akasa community, Bayelsa State yesterday as Miss Teller Francis, a 200 level Political Science student at Niger Delta University, Amasoma, lost her life while on election duties during the local council polls.

Francis, who was serving as an Ad Hoc staff for the elections died by drowning when the driver of the boat in which she was traveling lost control due to turbulent tide.

Chief Blessing Izagara, Chairman of Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), announced the development Sunday in Yenagoa in a bid to absolve the commission of responsibility, but tried to attribute the tragedy to the carelessness of the deceased.

A minute of silence was observed for the soul of the departed student, but the commission was curiously silent on extending condolences to her family.

Izagara blamed the deceased for refusal to wear a life jacket, saying she was was compelled to put it on at a naval check point, only to remove it shortly before the mishap occurred.

Announcing the results of the polls, which were characterized by very poor turnout, the BYSIEC Chairman said that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the eight chairmanship positions in the state, but the commission was yet to tabulate the results for the councillorship from the 105 wards.

According to him, in Brass LGA, Mr Obed Andi of PDP scored 37,464 votes while Mr Milton of ANPP scored 473, Peremote Orlando of CPC 440, and Akimi Saturday of ADC, 422.

At Ekeremo council area Mr Tobiye Billy, PDP scored 59,553 votes to clinch the chairmanship seat, Mr Pideke Franklin 275 , Agawa Park 201, Nemin Palma 174.

Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA Mr Gbaranbiri Iselema, PDP won with 19,371 votes , Boloyabi Patrick of ANPP scored 959 votes.
The results announced for Nembe LGA showed that the PDP candidate Mr Emina Beneth got 57,787 votes, Mr Ibuami Jonathan of ACN, 1,275, Mr Nyenyen Mathias of Accord Party got 691 votes.

At Ogbia local government, there was no voting as Mr Abbah Richard of PDP was unopposed.

However in Sagbama LGA, although there was no opposing candidate, Mr Willy Jerry of PDP polled 56,737 as the electorate reportedly insisted on voting in absence of opposition.

In Southern Ijaw council area, Mr Remember Ogbe of PDP got 120,189 votes, Mr Ghadafi Okiakpe of ACN 1359, Mr Ikoyike Genesis of ANPP 1,167.

In Yenagoa LGA, Mr Ben Chubby of PDP won with 111,391 while Mr Solomon Ossai of PPA scored 225.
The Chairman also said that the commission was unable to conduct elections in Ward 4 at Brass local government but that it would be conducted within the next seven days.