Controversy as Gov Seriake Dickson Visits Aso Rock Ahead of Bayelsa Gubernatorial Polls

Journalists at the Aso Rock Villa were stunned by the unannounced visit of Seriake Dickson who made his way to Buhari's office for undisclosed reasons.

Seriake Dickson

 

Ahead of the January 9, 2016 supplementary governorship election in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson on Tuesday visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Dickson, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, arrived the premises around 2pm and headed straight towards the President’s office. It was however not clear if the governor met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He emerged from the office a few minutes after and he refused to grant formal press interview. When told that he could not come and meet the President without disclosing the purpose of the meeting, Dickson denied visiting Buhari.

He claimed he was in the Presidential Villa to see the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari. When he was also asked how he was preparing for the election, Dickson said the election had been won and lost.

“The people of Bayelsa have spoken,” he said as he was finding his way to the Chief of Staff’s office. When he was also told the need to react to media reports that ex-militants are already re-grouping ahead of the supplementary election, the governor said members of his camp are always known to be peaceful.

“You know those who are always violent. You know that we are peaceful people,” he said.
 

The Independent National Electoral Commission had nullified the governorship election held in Southern Ijaw Local Government, therefore declaring the election inconclusive.

Out of the seven local government elections released by the commission, Dickson won six while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress won only in Brass Local Government.
 

The local governments won by Dickson included Ogbia, Sagbama, Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opkuma, Ekeremor and Nembe. The governor is currently leading with his total votes put at 105,748 while Sylvia scored 72,594.

Southern Ijaw which has the highest number of registered voters in the state is seen as the local government that will decide the winner of the election.