YENAGOA (Sundiata Post) – Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson on Wednesday assured the international community of his administration’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful governorship election in the state on December 5.
Dickson gave the assurance when the United States Consul-General in Lagos, John Bray paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.
Speaking on preparations for the December 5 poll, Dickson disclosed that, he is currently on a campaign and sensitisation tour of communities across the state on his agenda for the state if re-elected and the essence of a violence-free election, adding that, he is an advocate of free, fair and credible election.
He noted that, the opposition has been boasting of using federal might and the various agencies of government to rig the polls, as they have embarked on using intimidation and threats of violence to scare the electorate, which he added, would send a wrong and dangerous signal to the people.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Dickson used the occasion to warn anti-democratic forces who are bent on destabilising the state, and said the Bayelsa people would resist any attempt to sabotage the forthcoming poll, as he called on security forces to take appropriate action against those who may be involved in any form during the period.
While appealing to the U.S. mission to raise the issue at the appropriate level, the governor commended the U.S. government for deepening democratic relations and principles between both countries.
Stating the purpose of their visit, John Bray, said they were in the State to inform Governor Dickson on their plans to send an observer mission to monitor the forthcoming poll in the state and to share ideas on how to conduct a free, fair and credible election.
The Consul-General, who was accompanied by the political and economic chief in the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, Tom Hines and the political offiicer, Nick Austin, assured Dickson that the US mission would work with the state government and its agencies to ensure a smooth democratic process. He called on political leaders, parties and their candidates to play by the rules for a free, fair and credible poll.
