Rivers re-run: Dickson seeks probe of election violence

Governor Seriake Dickson
of Bayelsa State

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Tuesday called on the Presidency to investigate reported electoral violence and punish perpetrators to protect the country’s democracy.

Dickson made the call in a congratulatory message to his Rivers colleague, Gov. Nyesom Wike.

The governor also congratulated winners of the just concluded state and National Assembly re-run elections in Rivers.

According to him, the resilience and bravery of Wike, the Chiefs and people of Rivers is a manifestation of the people’s resolve and conviction in the nation’s democracy.

Dickson congratulated the government and people of Rivers as well as the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its supporters across the state for the victories recorded during the elections.

He applauded them for resisting attempts by the opposition party and its collaborators to subvert the collective will of the people as was evidenced in the polls.

The governor, however, condemned the action of some security agencies, whom he alleged were openly biased during the elections.

“The security agencies, instead of being neutral became openly biased and supportive to the opposition in its efforts at maiming, intimidating and derailing the process,” he said.

Dickson called on President Muhammadu Buhari and other relevant organs of the government to conduct an investigation and bring the perpetrators of election violence to book to serve as deterrent to others.

Besides, the governor urged INEC, security agencies and other major stakeholders to protect the nation’s democracy through proper conduct of future elections.