Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Chairman of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, has raised the alarm over plot by a director with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and leading member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo to rig and buy votes during the September 2 Local Government elections with N150 million polled from the NDDC.
The Edo PDP Chairman, in a statement, said intelligence available to the party revealed that a Director with the Niger Delta Development Commission will be sharing N150 million at his residence in Benin City to leaders and members of the APC to finance the rigging plan ahead of next Saturday, September 2 Local Government elections in the state.
According to him, “We are once again drawing the attention of the world and all lovers of democracy to the glaring fact that the APC is attempting to rig the Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, September 2, 2023, by mobilising N150 million from the Niger Delta Development Commission to execute their evil plan to buy votes and rig the elections.
“It is regrettable and disturbing that at a time when Edo people are suffering as a result of the criminally neglected federal roads and the biting economic hardship supervised by the APC led Federal Government, the party is deploying NDDC’s resources to subvert the will of Edo People.”
“It is shameful that the APC-led federal government is using funds meant for the development of the oil-rich Niger Delta to buy votes. We are sure that the resort to this shameful tactic is because the APC is certain of defeat.
The N150 million should be deployed by the NDDC to fix the failed federal roads in Edo State. And if they are desirous of winning the elections they should campaign and sell their programmes and candidates to Edo people.”
Reacting to the allegation, The Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Major General Charles Airhiavbere said the party should come forth with its proof.
“What evidence do they have? There is nothing like that. they are already fidgeting that APC has come to take charge in the state .
“I think they are already getting the feelers. It has nothing to do with the NDDC. All that they are seeing is that, there seems to be an under ground movement to make sure that the Saturday victory is of the APC and that is where we are and we are not going to change.
“There will be more rumours and we are ready to debunk them”, Airhiavbere said.