Bayelsa Election: IGP and security services requested to guarantee a peaceful election.

 By Babatunji Wusu

The inspector general of police (IGP) and other security services have been tasked by the Network of Bayelsa Professionals (NBP) to guarantee a peaceful electoral process throughout the state.

The group said in a statement released on Friday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was planning acts of violence on November 11th.

The party additionally claimed that APC deputy governorship candidate Joshua Macaiver had made statements threatening to win “by force.”

The NBP’s Deinmobofa Tantua stated that such “unguided utterances by politicians who have nothing to offer” are the reason why violence has always been a feature of the Bayelsa election process.

Tantua declared, “This time, we are raising the alarm about violent plans by the APC, all out of desperation.”

Joshua Macaiva, Timipre Sylva’s running mate, declared outright that they will “take it by force” at one of their rallies.

“We cannot ignore such a menace. The man who issued the threat has a well-known background.

“We advise Macaiva and his principal to focus on how to resolve his numerous court cases, which could potentially land him in more trouble, as well as how they can overturn their disqualification by a federal high court.”

The NBP pushed the country’s security services, including the IGP, to devise policies that would protect people’s votes, property, and lives.

Elections are not warfare, the group continued, and they urged Bayelsa residents to be watchful and not allow themselves to be intimidated by anyone before or during the poll.

“The governor has also been preaching that message, which has helped him gain the support of the populace.”