Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson is lamenting his fate following the bungling of the gubernatorial election being held today in the state.

Apart from widespread cases of violence, accreditation of voters started late and the card reader failed in many places, including failing to recognise the governor’s fingerprint as well as those of his wife and mother.

Voting also started very late – in fact, by 3:50 pm in polling units in Dickson’s home local government, Sagbama. The more than two hours delay was caused by the slow speed of card readers deployed in the area by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking shortly after voting at Unit 6, Ward 2 Sagbama, the visibly disappointed governor critised the security agencies for failing to avert the violence that characterised the polls.

He said that the state chairman of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, had been forced to seek refuge in police custody in Brass LGA.

Dickson said that he was compiling reported incidents of irregularities and will take adequate steps to address the situation in due course.

“We hear that in Southern Ijaw no election took place. We await the decision of INEC and security agencies,” Dickson said. The election in the area was eventually cancelled by INEC.

Dickson commended the people of Bayelsa for their tolerance and regretted the lack of resolve of security forces to provide adequate security cover for the poll.