BAYELSA 2015: INEC staff held hostage at Dickson’s local government

INEC staff held hostage at Dickson’s local government

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said its staff deployed to distribute electoral materials at Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State were being held hostage.

Sagbama is the home local government of Governor Seriake Dickson who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, who was on a live programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said staff deployed to convey materials to Sagbama were confronted by some gunmen.

According to him, the staff had to take refuge at the local government headquarters adding that another team was held hostage as they made to distribute materials.

He said security agents had been contacted to help rescue the electoral officials, “We are asking that a gunboat be sent to the place immediately. If necessary, they will have to be evacuated and brought back to Abuja.”

But the Deputy Inspector-General of Police overseeing the election, Argungu Hashimu, said the police was on top of the situation.

“We are taking care of everything,” said Mr. Hashimu, who is also a guest on the NTA programme said, “We are the ones on ground and we are doing our job.”

Cases of violent attacks were reported on Friday around some parts of Bayelsa. The commissioner for Information, Esuene Kikile, had alleged that armed thugs attacked PDP leaders and supporters in Okpoma community in Brass local government areas.

Yeside opens luxury bridal stores

Yeside opens luxury bridal stores

The last two months in the fashion industry have witnessed opulence, class, colour, crazy and innovative fashion designs showcasing foreign and indigenous fabrics. Last Sunday, the much awaited Yeside Laguda luxury bridal store and ready-to-wear line was launched at the classy G&W House, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Yeside Laguda is the daughter of the Minister of Information, Culture & National Orientations, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The event was preceded by a red carpet/cocktail.

L-R: Minister of Information, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Managing Director/CEO, Luxury Bridal Stores, Mrs. Yeside Laguda; Deputy Governor, Osun State, Otunba Laoye Tomori and Hadjia Kudirat Adeoti Mohammed

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Sola Adesola; Deputy Managing Director, Deutsche Bank, Mrs. Adeola Azeez; Justice Bisi Akinlade and Hadjia Kudirat Adeoti Mohammed, 

Managing Director/CEO, Luxury Bridal Stores, Mrs. Yeside Laguda; and Hadjia Kudirat Adeoti Mohammed

 Deputy Governor, Osun State, Otunba Laoye Tomori 

Bayelsa 2015: Governor Election, Gun men on rampage, Takes over Ministers house

Bayelsa 2015 Governor Election, Gun men on rampage, takes over Ministers house

*As many killed as Journalist escape death

SUNDAY December 5th 2015 cover

The governorship election in Bayelsa state yesterday witness a set back as gun men wage war on voters at least 4 people was reportedly killed.

Card reader, again, failed to former President Goodluck Jonathan at Otuoke his hometown in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa state, as it happen during the presidential election of March 28 this year, and also card reader also rejected PDP flag bearer, Dickson; his wife, Dr. Rachael; and his mother.

There was disagreement between the PDP Candidate, Henry Seriake Dickson and APC Candidates Chief Timipre Sylva over the violence and gun battle across the state. The PDP Candidate loses one member while APC lost four members according to Chief Timipre Sylva, APC flag bearer who accuses PDP be the brain behind the Violence.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state, Henry Seriake Dickson, who is the incumbent governor, and the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, also disagreed over the violent attacks and shoot-out across the state. But police’s official as not confirm the casualty figure as at time our reporter filing the story.

At least four journalist escape death on Friday at Odioma, a riverine community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa state they were Sam Oluwalana, of the Guardian newspaper, Mike Odiegwu of The Nation newspaper, Simon Utebor and Sodiq Adelagun, Photo Journalist with Punch newspaper they were saved by the JTF (Operation Pulo Shield) Friday.”

Early yesterday before the accreditation of voters for the poll, Lokpobiri’s riverine Ekeremor hometown, the headquarters of Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa state, came under heavy attacks by gunmen.

As thugs invade the house of minister of state for agriculture and rural development, Lokpobiri overpowered security men deployed in the coastal community and made their way into Lokpobiri’s compound,

The security personnel attached to the minster made attempts to restore normalcy, but the attacks intensified, according to an eye witness the tug was led by Tolu Amatolo,

“The affected communities are Oporoma in Southern Ijaw LGA, where the APC State Chairman, Tiwei Orunimighe, hails from; Nembe LGA; Brass LGA, the home of the APC’s governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva; and Ekeremor LGA, the home of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

Dickson, through his chief press secretary, also decried the failure of the card readers during yesterday’s election and the violence, which he described as condemnable.

The Bayelsa governor, was accredited at 10:45 a.m. in his Unit 4, Ward 2 of his Toru-Orua hometown in Sagbama LGA, was very angry that the card reader did not recognise him, his wife and mother.

It was observed at Units 1, 2 and 3 of Toru-Orua, that youths working for the PDP stormed the area and chased away APC’s supporters. At Dickson’s Unit 4, Ward 2 in Toru-Orua, an APC supporter was beaten to coma for challenging the hired thugs.

PDP, Candidate, Henry Seriake Dickson

APC Candidates Chief Timipre Sylva  and his wife, during the accreditation

Former President, Good Luck Jonathan casting his vote 

People are waiting to cast their vote

INEC official on their way to polling Unit

Mrs. Pacience Jonathan be accredited

Security agents at a polling unit

Photos from falling tanker at Ojuelegba, Lagos

SUNDAY December 5th 2015 cover

At least not less than 10 vehicles were burnt on Saturday as Ojuelegba bridge in Lagos a tanker carries 33,000 liters of PMS fell from the bridge, according to an eye witness the inferno started at about 4am on Saturday morning here are the exclusive photographs. 

Carcass of  Vehicles at Ojuelegba under bridge 

Fire fighters battle to inferno while fuck lifts help to remove the remain of the Tanker

Remain of the Tanker

Part of the affected road at Ojuelegba

The remain of the Tanker and part of the road

The Building and Vehicle affected 

Another building 

EXCLUSIVE! PRESIDENT JONATHAN DAUGTHERS WEDDING AT OTUEKE

All roads lead to Bayelsa as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is giving away Inebharapu Paul to Simeon Onyemeachi. here are some of the personalities that grace the occation

President Goodluck Jonathan (2ndright) his wife, Patience (right) Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) and his wife, Rachael (2ndright) pose with the foster daughter of the President, former Miss. Inebai Paul (3rdright)  and her husband, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi (3rdleft) during their traditional marriage ceremony at Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the State

President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience

L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson and the Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo

Seriake Dickson and his wife