By Samuel Oyadongha

YENAGOA — Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday, accused military personnel of operating as a terror force, noting the alleged ignoble role played in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state by the army.

Governor Dickson

Dickson while presenting flags to the party’s House of Assembly candidates in Yenagoa, described the role played by military operatives during the elections as “a coup against democracy.”

The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei,  however, urged the people to turn out in their large numbers to vote for all Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidates despite the brazen intimidation and harassment by partisan security forces.

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He said: “The Nigerian nation has once again failed our people by preventing them not only from voting but also accessing their homes in places such as  Nembe Bassambiri. Even when we sent Civil Defence Corps and mobile police operatives to the communities, the hoodlums and their supporters chased them away. I’m afraid that our communities are becoming a lawless society.

“The last election that held just a few days ago can best be described as a military coup against democracy in our state. I don’t expect anything less in this coming election, but despite that, we won in all the units, wards, and constituencies where election took place.

“But let me assure you that the charade they organised in Nembe Bassambiri and Southern Ijaw will not stand. I urge PDP leaders not to fall prey to the propaganda and blackmail.”

Dickson noted that failure to adhere to the electoral guidelines would create instability in the state which would have a ripple effect in the entire Niger Delta region.

According to him, no political party that is popular would resort to violence, rigging and winning elections through the barrel of the gun. Appreciating Bayelsans for their support to the PDP, he assured that the party would not spare any effort in recovering its stolen mandate.