Bayelsa Guber: PDP’s Diri Accuses Army Of Conniving With APC To Rig Poll

Senator Douye Diri, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in
the Bayelsa State governorship election has accused the Nigerian
Army of conniving with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig
the polls in parts of the state.

Addressing the press on Sunday in Yenagoa, Senator Diri said
members of the PDP were terrorized and arrested by soldiers on the
orders of the General Officer Commanding the 6th Division of the
Nigerian Army, General Sarham Jamil.

The PDP candidate briefed the press alongside the National
Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council and Bauchi State Governor,
Senator Bala Mohammed and National Vice Chairman of the Party,
Elder Emmanuel Ogidi.

He noted that what is playing out in Bayelsa confirms the
earlier red flag the PDP had raised days to the election about
plots by the APC to use Gen Sarham, who had since been transferred
to the Nigerian Defence Academy to defy his posting to supervise
the state election.

According to the PDP candidate, critical stakeholders of the
party were harassed and prevented from accessing the collation
centre in Ogbia, which is former President Goodluck Jonathan’s
Local Government Area.

Senator Diri said the Chairman of the Council, Ebiyon Turner and
a serving member of the state House of Assembly representing Ogbia
Constituency Two, Gibson Munalayefa were all arrested and detained
by the Army operatives up till the time of the briefing.

In Southern Ijaw, he noted that PDP members who were travelling
to their communities for the election including Dr Michael
Amaegberi were also apprehended by soldiers at Ogboinbiri while
their APC counterparts were allowed to go scot-free.

Senator Diri who commended the Independent National Electoral
Commission and the media for their show of professionalism in the
conduct and coverage of the election, however, urged them to
maintain the tempo for the sake of democracy.

He called on the international community and lovers of democracy
to prevail on the Nigerian Army to respect the rule of law and for
democracy to thrive in Bayelsa and Nigeria in general.

His words, “The collation centre in Ogbia is under siege by the
Nigerian Army and as we all know, this is against the laws of our
land. It is anathema because the Army has no business in
determining who goes into a collation centre.

“Information available to us indicates that the General Officer
Commanding, GOC, 6th Division has ordered officers and men from 6
Battalion, 343 Artillery, 5 and 29 Battalions were carrying out
certain security functions to withdraw from the venue in Ogbia
because they have failed to rig the election in Ogbia for the APC.
It is totally unacceptable. For there to be peace, there has to be
justice.

“In Nembe local government area, materials forwards, 7,8,9,10,
12 and 13 never got to their destinations. Electoral laws are clear
on the hijacking of electoral materials and so we call on INEC to
invoke the relevant laws so that the doctored results will not be
accepted.

“We have very credible information that the Nigerian Army has
been conniving with our opponent, the All Progressives Congress
(APC) to hijack the process and manipulate the already known
results.”

In their separate remarks, the Governor of Bauchi, Senator Bala
Mohammed and PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, Elder
Emmanuel Ogidi also commended the INEC for their efforts so
far.

Senator Mohammed urged Bayelsans to disregard the propaganda
making the rounds, noting that, the PDP is leading in the results
being announced.

On his part, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, condemned the level of
violence perpetrated by the APC before and during the election,
stressing it is unfortunate that APC wants to take over the control
of the state by force.

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