Rising Political Tensions in Bayelsa
There has been an increase in political tensions and insecurity in Bayelsa state since February 13, 2020 when the Supreme Court nullified the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship and deputy governorship candidates in the November 16, 2019 gubernatorial election in the state. Following the decision of the apex court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – the runner-up candidates – as the winner of the election and they were sworn into office. This development triggered a series of protests by supporters of the APC in the state. A curfew was later imposed by the police after protests had reportedly turned violent and degenerated into arson, vandalism and looting. Moreover, both the APC and the PDP are enmeshed in intra-party conflicts and power struggles over the outcome of their respective primary elections for their governorship candidates. The current political situation in the state has resulted in an escalation of conflict risk and violence, and an upsurge in organized criminality including piracy.
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Rising Political Tensions in Bayelsa
