Bayelsa LG Poll: Bayelsa Independent Electoral Commission Chairman quits over threats to life

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, (BYSIEC), Dr. Bertola Perekeme has resigned his position.

In the resignation letter dated May 31, 2019, Perekeme, who cited threats to his life and that of his family members as reasons for his decision hoped that the development would not jeopardize council polls scheduled for August 10.

The resignation letter sighted in Yenagoa on Saturday was addressed to Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.

It could be  recalled that Perekeme had on April 27 postponed the election earlier slated for July 27, 2019 to Aug. 10 , 2019 and pledged that the polls would be free, fair and credible.

The resignation raised doubts over the conduct of the Aug. 10 council elections in the eight local government areas of Bayelsa.

The resignation was confirmed in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson issued in Yenagoa on Saturday.

Iworiso-Markson who said that Dickson has accepted the resignation wuoted the governor as thanking Perekeme for his services to the commission, particularly for setting in motion the conduct of the August 10, 2019 local council election.

Dickson assured that regardless of the development, the council election will still go on, as the other members of the commission are in quorum to carry on with the business of conducting a hitch free council polls. 

The statement noted that the most senior member of the commission will take charge in acting capacity, pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.