By Sam Jones
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council has called for the arrest of Mr. Joshua MacIver, running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, over alleged inciting comments.
A statement by Hon. Ayibaina Duba, Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council’s Publicity Directorate, in Yenagoa on Monday urged the Inspector-General of Police and Director-General of the Department of State Services to immediately invite Mr. MacIver for questioning. https://sundiatapost.com/inec-removes-apcs-timipre-sylva-from-bayelsa-election-after-court-order/
The PDP statement said the fiery comments which were made during an APC rally at Twon-Brass last Saturday, in a video currently in circulation, are capable of truncating the peace of the state.
In the video that is currently trending, MacIver urged the people to “throw into the sea anyone that misbehaves on November 11 and ensure the person(s) dies.”
The PDP campaign council said it strongly condemned what it described as a “thoughtless comment” saying it had the potential of throwing the state into anarchy before and during the November 11 governorship election.
The PDP noted that the APC leader was notorious for instigating political violence and that his comments only confirmed what Bayelsans generally know about the party’s plot to cause violence during the election. https://sundiatapost.com/bayelsa-election-group-cautions-sylva-against-violence/
The ruling party recalled how the quasi-security outfit, Operation Famoutangbe, created when Chief Sylva was governor, in Gestapo-like manner visited mayhem on hapless Bayelsans and political opponents in the state.
According to PDP, the comments could be a dress rehearsal to again visit violence on Bayelsans akin to the activities of the proscribed state security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbe, under Chief Sylva as governor.
PDP said under Governor Douye Diri, peace has been fully restored in Bayelsa and the people now sleep with their eyes closed.
The statement read in part, “But because the opposition had nothing good to offer the state, it continued to incite violence with MacIver’s recent comments, the height of the party’s desperation to seize power at all costs.”
PDP restated its call on the security agencies to ensure the governorship poll was peaceful and devoid of interference.
It said the security agencies should perform their professional and non-partisan roles in elections and ensure anyone that breached the electoral process is brought to book.
It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be transparent and ensure that the November poll is free, fair and credible.
Election is about the ballot and not the bullets, the PDP noted.
