Supplementary election: Kogi gov, Bello plotting to infiltrate Benue with thugs to influence poll, youths allege
The leadership of Benue Youth Forum, BYF, has raised concerns over an alleged plot by neighbouring Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state to infiltrated the state with thugs during the forthcoming Saturday’s rerun to influence the outcome of election. Bello The youths who urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Kogi state Governor to order cautioned that if the plot was executed it could be a recipe for a major crisis in the state. President of BYF, Comrade Terrence Kuanum who sounded the warning yesterday in Makurdi alleged that the plot was being hatched in connivance with some Governors in the northern part of the country.
According to Kuanum, “We understand that Governor Bello is supported by some other Governors in the north with money to fund the project with the sole aim of removing Governor Samuel Ortom from office. Melaye floors Adeyemi in Mopamuro LGA, Kogi “Bello’s mission to Benue is to sponsor violence at polling units in areas where the supplementary election is to hold so that voters will flee and allow APC youths to thumb-print for their candidate, Emmanuel Jime. “The second plan of the Kogi Governor and his APC henchmen is to compel INEC to declare Jime as winner of the election then ask PDP to go to court.
“From our findings they plan to enter Benue through the Makurdi-Naka road before moving to the various local government areas where the polls are to hold. While the thugs are to arrive Benue on Thursday night, Governor Bello will arrive on Friday evening and stay in Makurdi till Monday morning to supervise the execution of the plot.” Kuanum noted that “as youths of Benue State whose future is being toyed with, we feel concerned, hence our decision to appeal to President Buhari to warn Governor Yahaya Bello to drop the evil agenda. “We are law abiding citizens of this country, but we won’t fold our arms and watch a Governor from another state invade our territory to cause political instability. We will vehemently resist any plan to manipulate the election.”
Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the Kogi state Governor, Mr. Muhammed Onogu said, “the allegation is untrue, false and malicious. The Benue people should face their election and do what they think is good for the people. “The Kogi state Governor has a tight schedule down here in the state, I don’t know where they got their information from but as far as I am concerned it is totally false and we urge the public to disregard such erroneous and calculated lies. ‘Why Obaseki needs a 2nd term’ “Benue people should face their elections.
In Kogi we have two State House of Assembly rerun elections coming on Saturday in Igalamela and another in Lokoja I state constituency. So this is what matters to the Governor and not the one in Benue state.” On his part the APC Publicity Secretary in Benue state, Mr. James Ornguga said, “why is PDP crying foul? If from what we heard they are bring in the likes of Senator Dino Melaye to Benue to help them supervise the election, what is wrong with my party bringing in Yahaya Bello. “Though we have not come out with an official list yet but If we like we will bring in Senator Bola Tinubu to Benue, there is nothing wrong with that as far as it is legal.” Vanguard
