By Shedrack Frank
Yenagoa – The Bayelsa Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissociated itself from the election violence in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen in military uniform were reported to have killed Seidougha Taribi, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the Saturday, Feb. 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Mr Doifie Buokoribo, State Publicity Secretary, Bayelsa APC, in a statement on Monday in Yenagoa, dismissed insinuations by Governor Seriake Dickson and the state PDP that Taribi, was a victim of violence perpetrated by APC supporters.
“On the day of election, materials were brought to Oweikorogha, PDP supporters led by Moses Taribi, Seidougha Taribi, Promise Elijah, Reginald Dei and others who were fomenting trouble with the intent to destroy the electioneering materials or hijacked them for their party.
“APC supporters did all they could to allow voting to take place.
“At that instance, the APC Ward 2 Agent, Deizigha ThankGod, approached the PDP loyalists to plead with them to return the card reader, but they refused.
“APC loyalists then insisted that voting cannot continue.
“While they were concentrating on the other two units, PDP thugs led by Moses Taribi, forcefully took away the remaining materials of that unit to Seidougha Taribi’s house and were thumb-printing in favour of the PDP.
“At that point, the voters sought for security intervention to secure the electoral materials.
“The soldiers arrived at Oweikorogha and stormed Seidogha Taribi’s house. There was an exchange of gunshots,” he said.
Boukoribo said that the APC was concerned that houses belonging to member and their relations were burnt down in the community and properties looted.
He said the party condemned the unnecessary insult in Oweikorogha, adding that APC was the victim and not the aggressor.
Boukoribo, therefore, called on security agencies to do all it could to restore law and order in Oweikorogha community saying that APC members and other peace-loving residents in Southern Ijaw need government protection.