APC vows to resist plot to rig Assembly elections

Bayelsa State Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress has vowed to resist any plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to rig the April 11 elections. Leaders of the party took the position on Wednesday after leading a protest to the state office of INEC on Swali Road, Yenagoa. They had gone to the INEC office to formally register their indignation at alleged irregularities that marred the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. They appealed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Baritor Kpagih, to call caution his ad-hoc staff, warn them against conniving with security agents to sabotage the House of Assembly election. The State APC Chairman Tiwe Oruminighe said the party had confronted Kpagih with all the irregularities that occurred on March 28. He said the party was particularly uncomfortable with its findings that security agents colluded with INEC’s employees to cart away sensitive and non-sensitive materials. Oruminighe said they were angry that the last elections were not properly conducted in the state, alleging that the procedure was heavily manipulated and compromised. Oruminighe said APC would no longer fold its arms and watch similar irregularities to occur in April 11 polls. He said the next elections were so crucial to the party and the people of the state, insisting that they would not accept any procedure below minimum standards. The party boss said since the coming elections were grassroots- based, the people should be allowed to elect their representatives without intimidation, inducements and manipulation. Oruminighe, who said the party would take similar protest to the Department of State Security and the police, added that APC stood a better chance in the coming elections. He, however, lauded INEC for the innovation the agency introduced into the electoral process. Oruminighe said the REC promised that the agency would do its best to ensure that the coming elections are free, fair and credible.