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Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The People’s Democratic Party has condemned in strong terms, the hijacking of electoral materials by a paramount ruler in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The State Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, said in a statement on Saturday that information at the disposal of the party indicated that the traditional ruler abducted officials of INEC with electoral materials to his residence for thumb printing and production of concocted results.
He said that the materials were hijacked by the paramount ruler and taken to his residence for brazen manipulation in favour of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
Keku said that the electoral fraud masterminded by the paramount ruler affected units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ologoghe , ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2, Bayelsa state.
According to him it was most condemnable that a paramount ruler would subject the traditional institution to ridicule to pursue selfish individual interest to the detriment of the common good.
He urged INEC to redeem its image by cancelling the fake results being produced by the traditional ruler for units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ologoghe, ward 04 , Ogbia constituency 2.
He said: “The PDP wishes to draw the attention of INEC and the public to the snatching of the electoral materials meant for units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ologoghe, ward 04, Ogbia constituency 2 by a paramount ruler in the area. We call for total cancelation of results of unit 12, 13, 14 and 15 from Ologoghe, ward 04, Ogbia constituency 2, Bayelsa State as election did not take place in these units.
“INEC as the electoral umpire would do well to reject the fake results and cancel the election to redeem its image.”
But the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Bayelsa State, Pastor Monday Udoh has explained that the Commission would wait for official report before it would take action of reported cases of electoral materials.
Udoh in his reaction said, though he had also received reports of the alleged hijack, however, said he was waiting for an official report from the Electoral Officer, EO, before any action could be taken.
He said: “I have heard about the hijacking of materials as you have heard, but I am still waiting for the Electoral Officer to file his report as the basis for any action, whatever we have heard on social media can be orchestrated but the man on ground is the EO; he has not filed a report to me but I will try to access the place; it is my duty to do that. I am going to find out from independent viewers and sources.”
