Yenagoa — Bayelsa State government, yesterday described as 'misplaced fears,' claims in some quarters that Governor Timipre Sylva's tenure will terminate in 2011, saying that the Federal High Court judgment in Jos, on the tenure of Governor Olusegun Oni of Ekiti State, has nothing to do with Bayelsa governorship poll.

According to the state government, Governor Sylva's tenure will end on May 29, 2012 and as such, the next governorship election in the state will take place in 2012.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Strategy and Orientation, Mr Nathan Egba, said the Justice Ambrose Allagoa judgment delivered last weekend on the tenure of the Ekiti State Governor, Chief Oni, was based on the cancellation of only 63 units in 10 local government areas.

But in the case of Bayelsa, he said, it was the entire 2007 election result in the state that was cancelled and had to be re-conducted in 2008.

Reacting to the Federal High Court ruling on tenure of the Ekiti Governor, which triggered panic among supporters of the Bayelsa State Governor, Egba, in a statement in Yenagoa, allayed the fears of the people, saying, "based on the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos, there have been inquiries on how it affects Bayelsa.

We wish to assure the people and other interested Nigerians that the first tenure of the Governor will end on May 29, 2012. Consequently, the next governorship election in the state is expected to hold in 2012.

"This is because, unlike the situation in Ekiti State, where only results in 63 units in 10 local government areas were cancelled and re-contested for, the entire Bayelsa governorship election was cancelled and ordered to be held afresh on the ground that no governorship election took place in 2007," he added.

May we refer those in doubt to the Justice Allagoa ruling, where he specifically referred to section 180 (2)(a) of the 1999 constitution, when he held that since it was not whole election that was cancelled, Governor Oni had to go back to the electorate to seek re-election in 2011."

The Bayelsa Information Commissioner called on the people of the state to be calm and continue to support the present administration of Governor Sylva and his Deputy.

Werinipre Seibarugu to deliver the dividend of democracy.

Meanwhile, the group, Political Alliance for Good Governance, PAGG, a coalition of five political parties in Bayelsa State namely Action Congress, All Nigeria Peoples Party, All Peoples Grand Alliance, Labour Party and Peoples Progressive Alliance, yesterday hailed the court verdict as a victory for democracy and urged the Governors of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ekiti, Kogi Osun and Sokoto States to brace up to the challenges ahead by ensuring smooth transition to another government come 2011 in their respective states.