Ahead of the January 9, 2016 supplementary poll in Bayelsa State, the Peoples Democratic Party has said its main opponent, the All Progressives Congress is fighting a lost battle.

The PDP said its stand was based on the premise that the governorship election had already been won and lost.

It said its candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson, was in an unassailable position having won in six out of seven local government areas with Southern Ijaw the only remaining area of contest.

“It’s a lost battle for the APC,” the PDP stated.

The party also said all those who caused the violence which led to wanton loss of lives and property during the cancelled election in Southern Ijaw and other parts of the state on December 5 would  face the full weight of the law.

The party described the alleged assault on the Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Chief Remember Ogbe, by Governor Dickson as a “cock and bull story” unworthy of any further comment.

In a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Publicity of the Restoration Campaign Organisation of the PDP, Mr, Jonathan Obuebite,  said there were attempts by the APC to whip up sentiments over efforts by the state government to ensure that  justice takes its course.

Obuebite said those who were arrested over disturbances which marred the governorship elections of December 5 and 6 were APC members.

Obuebite said all those arrested would be duly prosecuted and be made to face the full wrath of the law, if found guilty regardless of their party affiliation.

He said it is now clear to those who were deceived that federal might will protect them from their impunity that there is no such thing.

Meanwhile, the APC through the Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation expressed its concern over the unbecoming violent actions of Dickson, particularly following the outcome of the governorship poll in Bayelsa.

The Director, Media and Publicity, SICO, Chief Nathan Egba, claimed that Dickson, who was reportedly so disappointed with the PDP’s performance in the area, invited Ogbe to the Government House and gave him the beating of his life.

Egba said, “We believe that in humiliating ‎the Chairman of Southern Ijaw for the poor performance of the PDP in his LGA, the Governor was in fact humiliating the entire people of the LGA.

“Eyewitness accounts say the Governor invited the Amassoma-born Ogbe to his official residence in Government House and threatened to deal with him for allowing the APC dominate the length and breadth of Southern Ijaw during the cancelled elections, a threat he subsequently carried out.

“Dickson has become used to assaulting and harassing people and getting away with it. However, ‎because large number of people are eyewitnesses to this particular incident, the APC is calling on the SILGA, Ogbe to initiate legal proceedings against the Governor.”

He said if as expected, Ogbe could not summon the courage to do the needful, the APC hereby called on Civil Societies and other human rights activists, including the National Human Rights Commission to wade in the matter with a view to restoring the dignity and self-respect of Ogbe.

Source: Punch