AHEAD of Saturday's gubernatorial primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, to elect the standard-bearer of the party in the February 2012 governorship poll, heavy security presence in Yenagoa, on Monday, further heightened tension and anxiety among the residents.Investigation conducted by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that detachments of mobile policemen were deployed to strengthen security around strategic areas in Yenagoa metropolis and other neighbouring communities, such as Imiringi, Ogbia, Otuokpoti, among others.This is coming against the backdrop of the disqualification of the incumbent governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva and three other gubernatorial aspirants from participating in the exercise.Other aspirants, who were barred from the primary, include the former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and erstwhile Managing Director of the Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Timi Alaibe; Ambassador Boladei Igali and Mr Ben Murray Bruce.Nigerian Tribune, while monitoring the conduct of ward congress across the state, on Monday, discovered that an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) belonging to the police was stationed at the frontage of the PDP secretariat in the state, while D.S.P Alamieyeseigha dual carriage way, which leads to the party secretariat, was closed to traffic.No fewer than 20 anti-riot policemen were also spotted mounting security at the PDP office, just as other security agents were also busy diverting traffic to other routes.Similarly, Melford Okilo expressway, which passes in front of the Creek Haven Government House, was blocked to commuters and pedestrians, while mobile policemen mounted security around the area.At Epie Ward 3, Amarata, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, around 12.45 p.m, executive members of the PDP were seen participating in the ward congress to elect delegates, who will vote in the Saturday gubernatorial primary.However, there were pocket of complaints by some loyalists of the governor over the conduct of the ward congress, as just as the state PDP legal adviser, Mr Michael Emiemo, contended that officials of the party that came from Abuja for the exercise came to the secretariat in Yenagoa and went away in company with the state chairman, Mr James Dugo, to an unknown destination.When contacted over the security presence, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Eguaveon Emopkae, said 'the development is part of our security strategy to ensure effective security of the state.
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