Diri Canvasses Law Against Vote-Buying, Hails INEC’s Stance On Illegal Votes

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called for legislation to check the menace of vote-buying as part of measures to safeguard the country’s electoral system.
Senator Diri stated this on Wednesday at his country home, Sampou, in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state when his predecessor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Seriake Dickson, paid him a visit to formally congratulate him on his re-election for a second term.
The governor condemned the act of vote-buying, describing the development as part of the country’s electoral process that was faulty and called on stakeholders to work collectively in addressing the menace in order to prevent politicians that do not mean well for the state from hijacking the process.
“For me, that is part of our electoral process that is very faulty. I like to urge our leaders, especially those that are in the National Assembly, to propose a bill that can solve this problem of vote-buying because it is becoming a very big problem here in Bayelsa State.
“So, we all need to put our minds together to see how we can address this issue because that is the only way we can prevent politicians who do not mean well for the state from having access to political power”, he said.
The Governor thanked Bayelsans for renewing his mandate to serve them for another four years.
In his remarks, Senator Seriake Dickson said he led a delegation of the Bayelsa West Senatorial District to congratulate Diri on his well-deserved victory, noting that in securing a second term, the governor has four more years of stability to consolidate on his development agenda for the state.
“Just as the people of Sagbama-Ekeremor Senatorial District supported you in 2019 election, they did it again this time and they are still assuring you of their support in this fresh mandate.
“There is high expectations from the people and we know and trust that you will bring it about. You have taken the road to Ekeremor and we also expect that you will start the road to Agge. Power means nothing if it does not bring about development, peace and prosperity”, Senator Dickson said.
Meanwhile, during a live Channels Television political programme on Wednesday, the re-elected Bayelsa governor applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for cancelling and rejecting questionable ballot figures earlier returned for Nembe Local Government Area in last Saturday’s poll.
Diri lauded the electoral umpire for insisting on the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to protect the integrity of the election.
He said the BVAS device was fully deployed during the election just as there was prompt distribution of sensitive and non sensitive materials across the state.
“The electoral umpire did well and l want to believe that this is one of the best elections it has conducted where the BVAS was brought to full test and we saw that wherever it was bypassed, all parties there scored zero”, Diri said.
Making reference to Nembe-Bassambiri community where the BVAS was bypassed, he said INEC entered zero votes for such  areas.
When asked if he would extend a hand of fellowship to those who contested with him, Diri said: “I will extend my hand of fellowship to all those who contested with me. My maxim from day one when l took over the reins of power is, to show love where there is hatred and to give light where there is darkness.
“But l will not reach out to murderers. l will not reach out to very violent people. There must be a mindset to move away from the violence and murderous attitude of Timipre Sylva and those around him”, the Bayelsa State Chief Executive insisted.
On why he ran for a second term, Diri explained that he wanted to prove wrong critics that said he was a Supreme Court-made governor and that he could not win election in the state.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa