LG polls: Bayelsa SIEC Chairman quits over ‘threats to life’

Dr Bertola Perekeme, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), has resigned.
In his resignation letter dated May 31, Perekeme cited threats to his life and that of his family members as reasons for his decision.
He, however, hoped the development would not jeopardise the council polls scheduled for August 10.
The resignation letter was addressed to Governor Seriake Dickson.
Perekeme had on April 27 postponed the election earlier slated for July 27, to August 10, pledging that the polls will be free, fair and credible.
The resignation raised doubts over the conduct of the August 10 council elections in the eight local government areas of the state.
The resignation was confirmed in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in Yenagoa on Saturday.
Iworiso-Markson said Dickson had accepted the resignation and thanked Perekeme for his services to the commission, particularly for setting in motion the process to conduct the August 10 election.
Dickson assured that the council poll would still go on, regardless of the development, as other members of the commission were in quorum to carry on with the business of conducting hitch free council polls.
The statement noted that the most senior member of the commission would take charge in acting capacity, pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.