The Bayelsa State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) yesterday alleged that House of Assembly Speaker Kombowei Benson rigged the elections in Southern Ijaw Constituency 4.
Benson, who hails from Korokorosie, is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But the Speaker has denied the allegation.
The parties, at a protest in Yenagoa, the state capital, said materials meant for most wards were diverted to the Speaker’s home by his security aides.
They alleged that the results for most wards were written in Benson’s home under heavy security and sent to the Collation Centre.
State APC Chairman Tiwe Oruminighe said besides Koluama, there were no elections in other communities.
He alleged that materials for Fropa Ward 14, Apoi Ward 15 and Kubie Ward 6 were taken to the Speaker’s home in Korokorosie.
Following alleged widespread manipulation, Oruminighe said he reported the Speaker’s actions to Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Baritor Kpagih.
The APC chairman said the REC admitted receiving complaints of diversion of materials and referred him to the Electoral officer in the area.
He said the Electoral officer, despite accepting that materials were diverted, did not take action.
Oruminighe added that when APC agents visited Korokorosie to assess the situation, they were denied access to the community by security operatives, who barricaded the area with gunboats.
The party chairman also said the Collation Centre was arbitrarily moved from Ward 4 to Oporoma by the Electoral officer.
He said: “They didn’t allow us to enter the Collation Centre. One of our party men was shot. He is in the hospital. If you saw the video of what happened, you would think it was a war front. I don’t have confidence in the INEC I met at Oporoma.”
Oruminighe urged INEC to cancel the elections and order a fresh poll.
The APC chairman stressed that the party would not accept anything short of a new election in the affected areas.
Also, the Campaign Director of the AD candidate, Mr. Etimifa Stephen, decried the irregularities in the elections and called for cancellation.
He said: “There was real election in Koluama Ward, but my agents told me there was no election in other wards. People waited in vain to vote for their candidate.
“At Ward 3, the Speaker’s ward in Korokorosie, materials were taken to the Speaker’s home. The materials for Fropa were taken to the Speaker’s ward. At Apoi community, the Speaker’s aides hijacked election materials.”
But Benson said since his home was not a polling unit, it could not have been used for thumb-printing ballot papers.
“To the best of my knowledge, the election went on well till the point of collation,” he said.
he Bayelsa State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) yesterday alleged that House of Assembly Speaker Kombowei Benson rigged the elections in Southern Ijaw Constituency 4.
Benson, who hails from Korokorosie, is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But the Speaker has denied the allegation.
The parties, at a protest in Yenagoa, the state capital, said materials meant for most wards were diverted to the Speaker’s home by his security aides.
They alleged that the results for most wards were written in Benson’s home under heavy security and sent to the Collation Centre.
State APC Chairman Tiwe Oruminighe said besides Koluama, there were no elections in other communities.
He alleged that materials for Fropa Ward 14, Apoi Ward 15 and Kubie Ward 6 were taken to the Speaker’s home in Korokorosie.
Following alleged widespread manipulation, Oruminighe said he reported the Speaker’s actions to Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Baritor Kpagih.
The APC chairman said the REC admitted receiving complaints of diversion of materials and referred him to the Electoral officer in the area.
He said the Electoral officer, despite accepting that materials were diverted, did not take action.
Oruminighe added that when APC agents visited Korokorosie to assess the situation, they were denied access to the community by security operatives, who barricaded the area with gunboats.
The party chairman also said the Collation Centre was arbitrarily moved from Ward 4 to Oporoma by the Electoral officer.
He said: “They didn’t allow us to enter the Collation Centre. One of our party men was shot. He is in the hospital. If you saw the video of what happened, you would think it was a war front. I don’t have confidence in the INEC I met at Oporoma.”
Oruminighe urged INEC to cancel the elections and order a fresh poll.
The APC chairman stressed that the party would not accept anything short of a new election in the affected areas.
Also, the Campaign Director of the AD candidate, Mr. Etimifa Stephen, decried the irregularities in the elections and called for cancellation.
He said: “There was real election in Koluama Ward, but my agents told me there was no election in other wards. People waited in vain to vote for their candidate.
“At Ward 3, the Speaker’s ward in Korokorosie, materials were taken to the Speaker’s home. The materials for Fropa were taken to the Speaker’s ward. At Apoi community, the Speaker’s aides hijacked election materials.”
But Benson said since his home was not a polling unit, it could not have been used for thumb-printing ballot papers.
“To the best of my knowledge, the election went on well till the point of collation,” he said.
