Coalition for Transparency and Democratic Leadership has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe alleged $30million used by the All Progressive Congress (APC) during the 2019 Bayelsa gubernatorial election.
The Executive Director of the coalition, Kingsley Eluma who addressed newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja during a protest said the group was protesting to bring to the notice of the commission, infractions, violation of extant laws by a former governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, APC gubernatorial candidate, David Lyon, Chief Emeka Offor and certain multinational oil majors operating in Bayelsa state.
According to Eluma, the coalition have it on strong authority, that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) awarded contracts to private companies of Timipre Sylva for the purpose of funding the election without following the procurement laws in the land.
He maintained: “We have also received credible report with evidence that confirmed that Chief Timipre Sylva also facilitated the sum of Five Million Dollars ($5million) from a private person, Chief Emeka Offor for the purpose of election which violates the law of the land”
“Our private investigation also shows that the Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission gave the sum of Five Million Dollars ($5 million) to the All Progressive Congress, Bayelsa State through Chief Timipre Sylva apart from the contract awarded to his companies without following due process”
“Chief Timipre Sylva also compromised his position and office by using his privileged position to mandate all oil majors to donate certain sums of money which totaled $20 million an act that grossly violates extant laws”
“It is therefore worrisome that the Bayelsa State All Progressive Congress, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Emeka Offor and Chief David Lyon have grossly violated these laws through their activities during the last gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state and it is important that your very responsible commission look into the above allegations and bring offenders to justice as you have always done even in the investigation and prosecution of Arms funds for campaign in the same November l6th gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state.
