The Bayelsa state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as groundless and misguided a statement by the state governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, discrediting votes garnered by the party in last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly election in the state.
In a statement on Thursday in Yenagoa, the state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo advised Governor Dickson “to explore the democratic option of seeking redress in the courts if he had any grievances about the poll results, instead of plunging into the realm of reckless and enflaming statements. “
The statement reads in part: “Our state condemns the purported result from constituency 4 of Southern Ijaw and the seven Nembe wards. We want the world and INEC to know that what happened in Nembe Bassambiri and Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 was a blatant assault on the rights of our people”, the statement said more specifically.
“The APC in Bayelsa state considers the government statement as baseless, ill-advised, and reckless. Dickson is not Bayelsa state. Bayelsa state is not Dickson.
“Bayelsa state is not a party to the general elections. Bayelsa tate Government must not be confused with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The 23 February 2019 elections have taken place, the results collated and winners have emerged.
“No amount of threat, psychological warfare or fake news can change the results as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The only option open to any aggrieved party is a democratic court of law. As a lawyer, or even governor who has access to a myriad of lawyers, Governor Dickson should know this basic fact.
” Working in concert with Governor Dickson is the amorphous Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Bayelsa State. Created by the PDP, CUPP is demanding fresh elections in Southern Ijaw and Nembe Local Government Councils won by the APC. Our advice to CUPP go to court!”
” The peace-loving, democracy-minded people of Bayelsa State cannot be made pawns in a crude political game by rogue buccaneers seeking power at all costs.”
