Critical Stakeholders and Concerned members of the Labour Party, have staged a protest in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, over the alleged refusal of the state government to conduct local government elections in the state.
This has led to abandonment of the councils under the administration of heads of personnel management.
Christopher Timi-Ogosi, who led the disgruntled Labour Party protesters, expressed their dissatisfaction over the denial of development to the people of the grassroots alleging that it was due to the government’s inability to conduct local government elections.
While Advocating for democratic autonomy for councils, Christopher accused the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri of meddling in the operations of local government councils and called for a review of the country’s constitution.
“Democracy has not been sustained in local government councils in the state due to certain factors like the unnecessary delay in the conduct of election as witnessed under the Prosperity Administration of Governor Douye Diri in Bayelsa State.” he said.
He therefore called on the governor and the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission to set the ball rolling for the commencement of local government elections so that people at the grassroots are not deprived of the dividends of democracy.
Christopher Timi-ogosi, who is the LP candidate for Sagbama Local Government Area in the state, further stated that “government ought to be an enabler of growth not an impediment” stressing that non-conduct of elections is of developmental detriment to the affected areas.
He also noted that the non-conducts of election by the Bayelsa INEC contravenes Section 26 (a) of the Electoral Act making it illegal for non-elected persons to occupy council positions, administer and appropriate local government funds.
“Observations have been made, questions have been raised and still no answer has been given as to why the election has not been conducted without any genuine reason,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Labour Party in the Sagbama LGA, Stephen Morris, said the locals were aggrieved that the state government had not conducted elections in the local government.
Morris therefore appealed to the Bayelsa State governor to conduct local government elections adding that the development of the state cannot be achieved if the grassroot is ignored.
“if there is no leadership at the grassroots there shall be no development and government.” Morris said.
Recall that the tenure of elected local government council chairmen in the state ended on August 14 2022.
