Bayelsa poll: Jonathan blames voters’ apathy on court cases

At the Otazi Playground Polling Unit 039, Otuoke where President Jonathan and his family registered, only 124 voters, out of 857 that registered turned out to vote.   Jonathan addressed newsmen shortly after casting his ballot in company of his wife, Patience and mother, Eunice. He noted that most people were confused up till Friday […]

At the Otazi Playground Polling Unit 039, Otuoke where President Jonathan and his family registered, only 124 voters, out of 857 that registered turned out to vote.

 

Jonathan addressed newsmen shortly after casting his ballot in company of his wife, Patience and mother, Eunice. He noted that most people were confused up till Friday night as to who was a candidate and who was not and whether election would go ahead or not.

According to the president, the large turnout during the April 2011 election could be attributed to the special interest the people had in the presidential election, which he noted equally, attracted Nigerians in the Diaspora.

His words, “You know that in Bayelsa State there has been some kind of challenges as to who the candidate is and who is not a candidate. And up to yesterday, Bayelsans were confused as to whether election would go on or not and this affect the turnout of voters.

“The behaviour of voters vary from one election to another. For the presidential election, most Nigerians in the Diaspora came home because they were quite interested in the presidential election and they all voted. In most cases, lower elections don’t attract that kind of interest, probably that may be the reason.”

Assessing the conduct of the election, President Jonathan expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the poll, saying it was generally peaceful across the state. He was also confident that the votes of the people will count.

“The exercise has been very calm and in the whole state I have not heard of any ugly incident, everywhere is calm and I am quite pleased. I am very hopeful that the votes of the citizens will count and clearly manifest in this election”, Jonathan said.

On his expectation after the election, the president said as a member of the ruling party, he was confident that his party would win, adding that the would-be governor would assemble best team for the state.

He spoke further, “I am a PDP senior citizen and member and I am very hopeful that PDP will win this election. We will expect the best from the governor, the deputy governor and his cabinet.”

President Jonathan had earlier been accredited   at Polling Unit 039 in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at 10.05 am. He was in company of his wife, Dame Patience and aged mother, Eunice.

There was heavy security presence in Otuoke community but the atmosphere was generally calm and peaceful.