Maintain Impartiality, don’t be sway by political parties ―Dickson

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has called on the Leadership of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to always imbibe the posture of impartiality in the discharge of their constitutional duties; and the need not to allow the commission to be sway by political parties in the state.

This, the Governor said shortly after swearing the newly constituted officers, led by Chairman, Bertola Perekeme to pilot the affairs of the commission in Yenagoa.

Dickson averred that the commission must stand upright as an institution that is not susceptible to manipulation by questionable politicians and political parties in the habit of subverting popular decision to cover for their unpopularity.

According to him, political squabbles, and the barrage of cases at the tribunal and court of law would have been avoided if electoral commissions had stood their ground as an unbiased institutions in the country.

He pointed that it is no longer news that politicians and political parties would always evolve idea to lobby electoral institutions, and noted that it was for that reason that government painstakingly selected officials with integrity to serve the commission.

Dickson alluded that politics is no longer for the highest bidder, but predicated on the acceptability of a candidate by the electorates, in a level playing field where votes must and should be seen as counted in open glare.

‘’Your assignment his critical to a better society, compromise could spell doom on society and resign this commission into ignominy and posterity would never be kind to you all.

‘’This commission is scared, and your assignment is sacred, therefore be above board in the discharge of your duties as a commission that decide the fate of the public, do not see black and call it white, be firm to say no when no is the right answer.

Dickson, who urged the commission to be fair to all politicians and political parties, noted that it is meant that they should be subservient or trade their constitutional powers for pecuniary gain. To this end, he charged the officials to brace up in no distant time for election in the state, stressing that it would serve as their first litmus test to attest their ingenuity, credibility and integrity as an unbiased and impartial commission.

Responding, Chairman of the newly sworn commission, Bertola Perekeme thanked the Governor for the appointment; and expresses their readiness to serve and to justify the government confidence reposed in them.