The Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri has condemned the destruction of voting materials in the Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) of the state by suspected thugs.
While voters were casting their votes on Saturday for the House of Assembly election, hoodlums reportedly hijacked and destroyed voting materials meant for wards 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, directed the Bayelsa State Police Command to restore peace in the area.
He “described the act as highly condemnable and warned those behind any form of electoral violence in the state to desist forthwith as the full weight of the law would be brought down on the culprits.”
The governor stated that his administration “abhors any form of criminality, especially electoral violence as it prevents the electorate from exercising their franchise.”
According to Diri, elections should be about the ballot and not bullets as it is not a war situation.
Already, the police authorities have arrested a suspect linked to the incident, promising to bring other culprits to book.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Dankwara, told newsmen that the hoodlums were able to destroy some electoral materials due to the riverine nature of the area.