The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has urged Gov. Nyesom Wike to explain his role in the alleged N700 million poll bribery scam in which his name is mentioned.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Chris Finebone, APC Publicity Secretary in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The APC alleged that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilled, Mr Johnson Okpoko, the state PDP Secretary, for collecting N700 million from the controversial $115 million lodged with Fidelity Bank.
It alleged that the money was lodged by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and used to bribe Independent National Electoral Commission officials in Rivers.
The statement said the aim was to influence INEC officials to change results to favour the PDP during the 2015 general elections across Nigeria.
“It is almost a week since the news came out of the EFCC that the detained PDP Secretary told the anti-graft agency that he collected N700 million from Fidelity Bank on the instruction of Wike.
“However, Gov. Wike has kept sealed lips about the revelation by the PDP State Secretary who is about to be charged to court soon by the anti-graft agency.
“The APC notes that whereas the anti-graft agency might put the invitation of the governor on hold because of constitutional immunity, he is already being investigated,’’ the statement alleged.
The statement said this was because immunity did not prevent the EFCC from investigating the allegation against the governor and keeping vital information for his trial after his tenure.
“The APC wishes to call on Wike to clear the air about this obviously damaging revelation which has painted the image of his office and that of the state in opprobrious light.
“It is the conviction of the APC that the governor owes it as a duty to Rivers people to confirm or deny with facts and figures the accusation,’’ the statement said.
The APC alleged that it observed the sneaky happenings at the 2015 general elections in Rivers and the nation but would like to keep its conclusions about what happened to itself.
“But we urge Wike to tell Rivers people and Nigerians his role in the confessions made against him by the state secretary of his own party, the PDP,’’ the statement stated. (NAN)