Low turn out and aparthy have marred Saturday’s local government elections on Bayelsa State
Though peaceful, 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that voters failed to turn out in Yenagoa the state capital, Ogbia, Nembe, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama, and Ekeremor Local Government.
The aparthy could be due to lack of adequate publicity for the election as residents said they were not aware of the elections.
Other residents seized the opportunity of the partial restrictions of movement to engage in normal routine businesses.
Governor Douye Diri, alongside his wife, Dr Gloria, cast his vote at his Kalamaowei Wari unit 4 ward 6 in Sampou Community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
He expressed satisfaction with the exercise, describing it as generally peaceful.
He said: “You can see that the exercise is peaceful here and it was seamless and the voting process is seamless and I think this is the way it is in every other units and wards and we expect a peaceful and successful local government elections will usher in a new leadership in the local government.
Seeing the low turn, Diri expressed hope that the people might come out because they know that the local government chairmanship and councillorship are the closest to the people.
He said “I also remember that during our own party nomination processes, the level of interest that it generated across the whole state. Clearly people are aware that today is local government elections in Bayelsa State.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, is reported to have boycotted the election as 27 political parties including the Labour Party, jLP, took part in the exercise.
