The Labour Party has issued a stern warning to Governor Douye Diri, accusing him of outrightly refusing to conduct local government elections and withholding funds intended for the polls.

Lamidi Apapa, the factional chair of the Labour Party, conveyed this message in a statement released in Abuja.

Apapa called on the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) to take necessary action.

He emphasized that if BYSIEC fails to initiate the process of local government elections by the end of the month, the party will resort to peaceful civil actions to exert pressure on the governor.

Apapa stressed the importance of electoral justice and democratic representation for the people of Bayelsa state, particularly at the grassroots level.

He expressed concern over the governor’s alleged withholding of funds allocated to local governments, which hinders the development initiatives of elected officials.

The Labour Party factional leader criticized the use of civil servants to control local government affairs, deeming it regressive.

He suggested that the delay in conducting the local council election might be driven by the governor’s political agenda, contrary to his earlier claims of prioritizing the people’s development.

Apapa also voiced his concerns regarding the slow progress of the ongoing court case aimed at compelling the governor to conduct the local government elections.

He urged Governor Diri to respect the independence of the judiciary, which played a vital role in his assumption of office.