Alleged N10m Bribe: PDP Demands Kogi REC’s Removal

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has called on Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Professor James Apam, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) over alleged collection of N10 million bribe from the state government.

Austin Okai,  Head, Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Kogi State, in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja Wednesday noted that the unholy financial relationship between the REC and the state government has made the people to lose confidence in the INEC in conducting elections in the state.

He alleged that besides the N10 million largesse from the government, the REC has also collected 25, 50kg bags of rice from the governor during the last Eid-el-Kabir celebration; an action which he said has dented the integrity of Professor Apam to supervise elections in the state.

Okai hinted that the presidential campaign council of PDP had petitioned Inspector General of Police,  IGP Mohammed Adamu, over security threats occassioned by Governor Yahaya Bello’s deployment of thugs and some unscrupulous security agents to harass members of opposition parties.

He warned that unless the REC is changed, the outcome of the general elections in the state might not be acceptable to the electorate.

He said the 2019 presidential elections is exactly 16 days from now and we are aware that Prof. James Apam has been paid in full for selling his conscience for the services he has accepted to render to the  Kogi State governor to rig the forthcoming general elections for just N10 million.

“The people of Kogi State are shocked to know that a man in the stature of a university professor is actually worth a meager N10 million to trade off the will of the people.

“As at now, this council noted that the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. James Akpam, has accepted a list containing 200 names from Governor Yahaya Bello for the purpose of ensuring their enlistment as ad hoc staff of the INEC who will play a crucial role in the collation of results in already determined flashpoints across the state.

“Whereas the identity of these 200 individuals are unknown, members of the Kogi State Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party have been harassed by persistent calls from Kogi people all of which suggest that these individuals are members of a special strike force well funded by the Kogi State government and trained in combat, drills and handling of weapons.

“This is coming side by side reports from insider sources that training manuals and other documents of the INEC including specimen of result sheets, card readers and ink have been handed over to Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for onward delivery to his 200 nominees.

“This council acknowledged that these are signs of grave danger and an imminent implosion of Kogi State,” he warned.

Okai therefore called on Prof. Yakubu to immediately replace Prof. James Apam for the integrity of the sake of INEC, stressing that the REC has lost clarity and sense of purpose to remain in office.

Credit: Daily Independent


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