Diri Seeks Legislation on Vote-buying, Commends INEC for Rejecting Voodoo Votes

•Dickson Congratulates Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has canvassed for legislation to check the menace of vote-buying as part of measures to safeguard the country’s electoral system.

Diri stated this on Tuesday at his country home, Sampou, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, when his predecessor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Seriake Dickson, paid him a visit to formally congratulate him on his re-election for a second term.

The governor condemned the act of vote-buying, describing the development as part of the country’s electoral process that was faulty. He also called on stakeholders to work collectively in addressing the menace in order to prevent politicians that do not mean well for the state to hijack the process.

“For me, that is part of our electoral process that is very faulty. I like to urge our leaders, especially those that are in the National Assembly, to propose a bill that can solve this problem of vote-buying because it is becoming a very big problem here in Bayelsa State.

“So, we all need to put our minds together to see how we can address this issue because that is the only way we can prevent politicians, who do not mean well for the state from having access to political power.”

Diri thanked Bayelsans for renewing his mandate to serve them for another four years.

In his remarks, Senator Seriake Dickson, a former governor, said he led a delegation of the Bayelsa West Senatorial District to congratulate Diri on his well-deserved victory.

He noted that in securing a second term, the governor has four more years of stability to consolidate on his development agenda for the state.