Bayelsa Election: Sylva Not Dickson, Attempted To Bribe Bayelsa REC, Group Alleges
The Bayelsa State Justice Forum, has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC), over the claim, that the Governor of Bayelsa and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), offered a bribe of two hundred million Naira, to the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagih to manipulate the outcome of the December 2015 governorship election in the State, in favor of the PDP.
The Forum through its Coordinator, Pastor Markson Konugha in a release sent to journalists in Yenegoa, described as false, spurious and baseless, the alarmist cry by the APC, accusing the REC and Governor Seriake Dickson, in the alleged scandal.
Reacting to the allegation, Pastor Konugha who laughed off the APC allegation being made through one of its front in INEC, Mr Francis Asmakia Ted observed that while it was not necessary to join issues with the APC, a party which has already lost the governorship election in Bayelsa State, and is reputed to thrive on propaganda and blackmail, it was pertinent to set the records straight so that the unsuspecting public is not misled and misinformed by the APC.
The Group’s Coordinator said the bribe story only exists in the imagination of its authors. He challenged the APC to present evidence of how the alleged sum of N200m was handed to the INEC’s REC by Governor Seriake Dickson, through whom, and by what channel it was transmitted.
The group berated the APC for what he termed its provocative acts of mudslinging, in a desperate bid to manipulate the outcome of the rescheduled elections in the Southern Ijaw Local government area of the State, scheduled for January 9th, 2016, which it said, will not work.
The group also disclosed that it was aware that investigation is ongoing into the claim by Mr. Baritor Kpagihthat some influential politicians attempted to bribe him before the December 2015 Governorship election, as information has it already, that the APC governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva did actually approached the REC, through his wife with a cash sum of One million US Dollars which was out rightly rejected by Mrs. Kpaghi.
The group however called on all Bayelsans and supporters of Governor Seriake Dickson to remain steadfast and continue to support the PDP administration in the state to deliver on its agenda of economic development, job and wealth creation, as well as industrialisation.