‘Violence, vote buying likely problems in election’

Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

 

VIOLENCE and vote buying are some of the factors that may impede a free, fair and successful governorship election in Bayelsa State, acting Director of Claude Ake School of Government University of Port Harcourt Dr. Sofiri Joab-Peterside has said.

Joab-Peterside, who delivered a lead paper at a round-table discussion on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) preparedness for successful conduct of the governorship poll, said the politics of petro-dollar will instigate a lot of interests from the state and federal levels.

Speaking on the topic: “Random thoughts on landmines on the road to successful conduct of Bayelsa State 2019 governorship election”, he said a lot of activities, including the not-so-straightforward activities of political actors, who want to be in charge of the state’s resources at all cost and the poverty-stricken and cynic point of view of the electorate will play roles to frustrate the efforts of having a successful election.

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Joab-Peterside said: “Bayelsa State, like some states in the Niger Delta, is an oil producing state. Consequently, electoral politics in the state is associated with politics of petro-dollar. Hence, the stakes are very high for the Federal Government and the local elite who often times collude to steal the people’s mandate.

“Being an oil-bearing state, with petroleum accounting for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, there is desperation on the part of those who control power at the national level and in the state to win the governorship election. There is a widely-held belief by some political pundits that the result of the governorship election has already been decided.

”Some claim that a formidable opposition has arisen in the state with some politicians appointed into the federal cabinet. There are thus high expectations of political change in the state. There is, therefore, palpable fear that a combination of violence and political patronage may be used to smash the ruling party in the state and prevent a free and fair election. In fact, there is near certainty that violence will play a major role in the coming governorship election.