The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has accused Governor Seriake Dickson of using state resources to instigate violence and compromise elections.
APC State Publicity Secretary, Dofie Buokoribo made the allegation at a media briefing on Thursday in Yenagoa.
Buokoribo said Dickson was “in the habit of playing victim and sponsoring fake news as a cover for his nefarious acts”
He advised residents of the state to be watchful and alert to guard against the governor’s “dangerous antics” as the state goes to the polls on Saturday to elect House of Assembly members.
The statement read in part: “We would like to alert the world to the fact that Dickson is using Bayelsa State resources to compromise the elections.
“Dickson is doing this at a time when the state is finding it difficult to pay salaries of its employees. He is also using state funds to arm political thugs and other lawless elements across the state, especially in areas where he is unpopular and has no social base.
“These thugs and lawless elements are working with his terror squad, Operation Doo Akpo. The irony of it is that as he is busy engaging in this ungodly act but shouting that our party has perfected plans to cause mayhem in the state.
“Following the Presidential and National Assembly elections, Governor Dickson established what he called a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence that marked the exercise.
“Now, Dickson is a major player and beneficiary of the general elections. Yet, he is inaugurating a Commission of Inquiry. This is clearly against the rules of natural justice. A man cannot be a judge in his own case.
“More than that, the general elections were federal elections governed by the Electoral Act. As a matter on the Exclusive Legislative list, the state government has no role to play. On these grounds, we reject Governor Dickson’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
“Accordingly, the APC in Bayelsa State would like to advise its members not to have anything to do with the commission. The Electoral Act has already prescribed the relevant punishment for any offence that has to do with the elections.
“Finally, we welcome the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to increase the presence of the armed and security forces in a number of states, including Bayelsa.
“In particular, we welcome the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olushola David, posted as Command CP to supervise the elections. We urge him to be neutral.
“On no account should Dickson’s terror outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, be allowed to operate on Election Day. The outfit has no electoral function. Dickson had used the outfit in the past to compromise our elections.”
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