Kogi, Bayelsa Guber: Groups Alerts Of 'Rigging Plans'

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, October 05, (THEWILL) – An alarm has been raised over alleged plans to rig the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

Two civil society organisations (CSOs), the National Conscience Rebirth Forum and Peace Initiative Network, raised the alarm Sunday in Abuja at a joint media briefing.

Alleging that some powerful persons with vested interests were determined to rig the elections in the two states in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which are in the opposition in both states, the groups called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately swing into action and nip the plan in the bud.

Part of the plan, according to a statement signed by one the groups' Coordinator, Comr. Sunday Bright, is that some parties who have opted for those it described as very scandalous and unpopular candidates as their flag bearers, may just be banking on electoral manipulations to oust Governor Seriake Dickson.

It also alleged that names of some APC registered members were being compiled to serve as key officials to conduct the governorship elections in the two states just as top security officials in the strategic agencies were to be deployed to oversee the elections.

The security officials, the group further alleged, were already being put together with a clear instruction “to deliver APC candidates in Kogi and Bayelsa,” adding that the entire plot has a “strategic link” with the presidential race in 2019, with the understanding that both Bayelsa and Kogi States would be key to advancing the electoral fortunes of the APC and as such “all necessary steps” must be taken to win the states in the next round of elections.

Condemning the rigging plot in very strong terms, the groups called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC to be at alert, alleging further that the rigging plot was real and being co-ordinated by a powerful politician in the South West region of the country.

The statement said: “They are very serious about the rigging plot and no one should underestimate their capacity for evil. The PDP in particular must take necessary action and be on guard, they are serious”.

“We are all aware of what has transpired in the party primaries of some political parties in the state, where there were underhand tactics employed to ensure some characters got the party ticket. We are using this opportunity to plead with INEC to be mindful of these doomed characters.”