A socio-political organisation, the Ijaw Youths Democratic Association (IYDI), has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State of ‘stockpiling weapons and recruiting cultists with a view to unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens and rig the forthcoming governorship election in its favour.’
The group also claimed that the party was plotting to ‘use violence, intimidation and various federal agencies, including security personnel to rig the election.’
The IYDI in a statement issued, Thursday evening by its President, Ebifagha Timothy and Secretary-General, Tilly Ekaunkumo, stated that the APC and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, were neither campaigning nor setting up any machineries in motion, as a party about to go into an election as close as December 5.
The organisation said APC in the State was busy recruiting cultists from outside the State, who are already attacking and kidnapping innocent Bayelsans, while security positions are also being attacked, with arms being carted away to create an arms base for the cultists preparatory to executing their plans of rigging the elections.
According to the group, ‘the intention of the APC is to carry out massive rigging of the polls, using the armed cultists and force the election umpire to announce the results in their favour, while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP goes to court.’
“Such acts of lawlessness and brigandage, if allowed to thrive, would be spelling serious doom for the Nation’s democracy, stressing that, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a major beneficiary of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s democratic disposition should rise up to the occasion and nip this plan in the bud.
“The only way President Buhari and the APC can demonstrate the change they profess to have enshrined in the polity is for them ensure that, a free, fair and credible election, where every eligible voter in Bayelsa State will be allowed to vote; one man, one vote.
“He is a beneficiary of a fair, free and credible election, where the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, even had to call to congratulate him before the final results were announced, so it would be too sad to see him allow an election to be rigged under his watch and so soon too.”
