Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva and other members of the opposition, to work with his administration in delivering a credible, free and fair election in the December 5 poll.
Dickson, who described the election as an isolated one, called on Bayelsans not to be intimidated by anybody or group, assuring that their votes would count.
Speaking on a wide range of issues in a live radio and television programme monitored by our correspondent, he noted that the state government had received assurances from the Federal Government that the coming election would be free and fair as a combined team of special Police mobile squad and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would be deployed in the state to conduct the election.
He said: “There will be no molestation. I like to use this opportunity to assure you that you will be safe. Don’t allow the criminals and the ungodly to intimidate you from doing what is right. Feel free to vote according to your conscience. You will not only vote, your votes will count. This election is a single election and the whole nation and international observers will be here and voting will take place in your communities. You are the masters of your communities. Vote, stay there until the results are declared in every unit. I am willing to abide by your verdict. I have spent the past couple of years providing service and leadership in the circumstances that we have found ourselves.
“I believe that this election is a referendum on what we have done and it is also a referendum on who you are. The whole world is also waiting to see, with all these developments where you will stand as a proud Ijaw man or woman. This election is beyond me. It is essentially about you. It is about your honour, respect and dignity and most importantly, it is about your future. We have an election ahead. The time has come to exercise your mandate freely. I will endeavor with my team to convince you so that you can see the need for us to consolidate development.”
