Bayelsa Guber:  LP Candidate Accuses Oppositions of Attempts to Incite Violence, Vote Buying

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in November 11 Gubernatorial Election in Bayelsa State, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, has accused the opposing candidates in the election of attempts to buy votes and use violence means to win votes.

Eradiri said one of the opposition is planning to use staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to undermine the poll.

Eradiri, a former president of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) and Commissioner for Youth in the state, alleged that while one of the opposition is boasting of saving over N30 billion state money to bribe INEC’s officials and buy votes, the other is trying to use violence at all means to win the poll.

The former IYC’s president, who spoke with journalists in Yenagoa, after meeting with traditional rulers, called on the electoral body not to allow themselves to be used and equally called on the voters to resist any attempts to buy them over or allowed to be intimidated.

He said: “I have expressed myself to them, introduced what we intend to do, presented to them our agenda and explained the agenda to the traditional leaders; they asked questions, we responded and so far so good, we have asked for a level field playing ground.

“Just as we use this opportunity to call on INEC because if a particular candidate in this election is boosting that he has bought over INEC. They have changed all the INEC’s officials, they are going to write results no matter what happens. They will not write this result!

“They cannot! And it is a call to INEC. Why should INEC allow itself to be reduced to the table of buying and selling? They are boosting on the road.

“One other group is saying they are going to spend 30 billion, they are gathering Bayelsa State money. Our roads, our schools, the employment of our children are what they are gathering to do election against me?

“I am not afraid because it is our money. They did not go and carry block anywhere to bring money to contest this election. One other party has been involved in killings, why should you have to shed the blood of Bayelsans because you want to lead them.

“What is there in government house? A place where they have borrowed monies and they have messed up the entire state is where people are killing other people’s children, shedding blood of old women, shedding blood of young people because you want to be leader.

“Look at me, am open, I am presenting myself because I cannot allow my generation to pass without waking up to challenge this incompetence in leadership and my hands are clean, am not afraid of anybody.”