Accord Party’s Rivers Governorship Candidate Tells INEC To Investigate Wike’s 100,000 Youths Appointment, Alleges Vote Buying

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has been accused of  planning to engage in vote buying by the governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP) in Rivers State, Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

According to Lulu-Briggs, Wike’s recent appointment of 100,000 special advisers from various polling units in the state was a vote-buying strategy, adding that he shouldn’t try to hide under the guise of political appointments.

Naija News gathered that the Rivers State AP governorship candidate has on this premise called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate what he alleged to be vote buying ahead of the 2023 general election.

He requested that INEC look into the matter in accordance with the Electoral Act, which, he said, would give Rivers people a fair opportunity to vote for candidates of their choice in the 2023 general election.

Lulu-Briggs, however, challenged Wike to be honest about the appointments and convert them to civil servant jobs to reduce the poverty level in the state rather than giving political appointments to be paid with Rivers’ money.

He noted that “It is clear that the 100,000 special assistants and unit advisers across the 23 councils cannot be described differently from vote buying. You want to give your party a head start and you are already paying money across the units.

“A hundred thousand persons you pay with state resources is an added advantage. Such is not done. We should create a level-playing field. Give Rivers people the opportunity to choose the man or woman they will want to govern them. They deserve that because they have been through a lot as a people.

“I think this is a matter the INEC should take on. And probably sanction the PDP. Obviously, they are getting an advantage. If they do not have a popular candidate, it is unfortunate because it is their choice to decide whom to present. So, when you present someone, you should allow Rivers people to decide and not give yourself 100,000 votes before elections.”