Civil Society Organisations, the National Conscience Rebirth Forum, Peace Initiative Network, yesterday in a press joint press conference drew the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to a hideous plot by some political heavyweights to rig the upcoming elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.
The groups said that it has discovered that some powerful persons with vested interests were bent on rigging elections in the two states in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which are in the opposition in both states.
The statement which was signed by the organisation’s Coordinator, Comr. Sunday Bright, stated that considering the fact that some parties have opted for very scandalous and unpopular candidates amongst the electorates as their flag bearer there is possibility they the same people may be banking on electoral manipulations to oust Governor Seriake Dickson.
It stated that names of some APC registered members were being compiled to serve as key officials to conduct the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. It also revealed that in order to ensure the success of the rigging plot, top security officials in the strategic agencies were to be deployed to oversee the elections.
The security officials, the group further claimed, were already being put together with a clear instruction “to deliver APC candidates in Kogi and Bayelsa”. It was also revealed 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.
The groups roundly condemn the plot, warning the leadership of the PDP to be at alert, while also stating that the rigging plot was real and being co-ordinated by a powerful politician in the South West region of the country.
“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 doom characters. “He said.
They also enjoined security agencies posted to the state to monitor elections to remain neutral in their engagements and not dent the image of nation’s security agencies in order to avoid scandals as witnessed in the just concluded Ekiti elections.
Meanwhile the organisation has called on the electorates to remain vigilant and ensure their voice for continuity of Gov Dickson’s development projects are not stalled for personal vendetta and sold to people in Lagos and Abuja without the interest of Bayelsa at heart.
