By Samuel Oyadongha
YENAGOA — Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties in Bayelsa State, Mr. Sunday Frank-Oputu, yesterday, said the bye-election to fill the vacant Yenagoa constituency II into the state House of Assembly slated for Saturday will be a test case for President Goodluck Jonathan’s one man one vote crusade.

Frank-Oputu, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting at the Bayelsa State Police Command in Yenagoa, said all eyes were on the state, come Saturday during the bye-election, given the fact that it is the home state of the President.

“The way and manner INEC conducts the weekend poll to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu, as Deputy Governor will go a long in restoring the confidence of the electorate in the president’s crusade to conduct free election,” he said.

“Bayelsa poll is a test case for President Jonathan since he is from here. If the election fails,  then it means President  Jonathan cannot conduct free and fair election as promised in the next general election,” the CNPP boss said.

He, however, called on the state police command to provide adequate security to ensure a level playing ground for the political parties that would field candidates in the exercise.

“We want a situation where every eligible Bayelsans is at liberty to elect candidate of their choice without fear of intimidation from any quarter,” he pleaded,  assuring that on the part of the political parties, they had agreed to maintain the peace and not cause any trouble during the poll.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Police, Elder Onuoha Udeka, assured the political parties of the preparedness of the command to provide a level playing ground for all during the bye-election.

Elder Udeka called on the political parties and their supporters to refrain from any act capable of causing security breach during the exercise.

He warned all would be trouble makers to stay away from Yenagoa constituency II during the bye election as the command will not hesitate to deal with any person caught violating the law irrespective of he/her position in society.

“The election should not be a do or die affair but should be seen as contest between brothers,” the state police said.