The commissioner for information, orientation and strategy, Ayibaina Duba, has called on political gladiators to cease beating the drum of war in Bayelsa, noting it prevents would-be voters from exercising their rights.

Mr Duba spoke against the backdrop of the low turnout of voters in Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa.

Of the 218,394 registered voters in Yenagoa LGA, only 54,380 voters participated in the November 11 poll.

Mr Duba, who spoke on Sunday at his country home in Nedugo community in Yenagoa LGA, suspects that beating the drum of war by political actors may have struck fear into the electorate, and they stayed away from voting, especially the non-indigenes.

But he described the accreditation and voting process as hitch-free, stating there was no delay in unit 12, ward 7, where he voted.

“I call on political actors not to beat the drums of war preparatory to elections. Let us be civil in what we say, be careful with our utterances so that people will not be afraid,” Mr Duba said. 

(NAN)