President Goodluck Jonathan says the governorship election in Bayelsa has been peaceful.
He told newsmen at his hometown, Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of the state on Saturday after casting his vote that reports from other parts of the state had been calm.
He said he was optimistic that the votes of the citizens would count after the election.
“At least you are with me in this village. It’s quite calm and the whole state, I have not heard of ugly incident; everywhere is calm; I am quite pleased.
“Bayelsa state had been a bit turbulent in the past. For the past few weeks or so, the whole atmosphere, I believe what is happening here shows clearly what is happening in other parts of the state.
“Here is very peaceful as you have observed because the voting is going on peacefully.
“I am very hopeful that our own belief that the votes of the citizens will count; will be clearly manifested in this election.’’
On voter apathy, Jonathan said the behavior of voters varied from one election to the other.
“For the presidential election, most Nigerians in the Diaspora came home because they were all interested in the election.
“People who work in other places also came home to vote. But lower elections in most cases do not attract that kind of interest; probably, that may be the reason.
He said there were challenges in Bayelsa on whether elections would be held or not and it might have contributed to the voter apathy.
The president said Bayelsa people were expecting the best from the in-coming governor, his deputy and the team that would run the state.