Labour Party governorship candidate, Udengs Eradiri has alleged that his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart and incumbent governor, Douye Diri is inducing voters with money.
Eradiri spoke after casting his vote in Ward 10, Unit 5, Ekpetiama, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state today Saturday, November 11.
The former president of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Worldwide, said it was unfortunate that the government was buying votes with state resources that should be used to improve the lives of the people of Bayelsa State, reports The Nation.
He said: “Some of us have decided that we will embrace the non-violent approach. But behind the scenes, state resources are everywhere, money is being exchanged for votes, ten, fifteen, twenty thousand, and so on.
“Money that would have been used in building good schools, standard hospitals and improving the lots of the people they are buying peoples votes.”
He also accused the ruling party of entrenching poverty in the state despite the huge resources coming into the state.
He said: “The government in power, the ruling party in the state has entrenched poverty in a state that produced oil. Today Bayelsa is the second poorest state in the country
“And they are inducing voters with money. That is not the way to go. The people deserve better and we must change what is going on in the interest of the state.
“I will never buy votes, even if I have the money. I will never use the money to induce voters because it is not my nature. We must do things differently l-Hasan to Change our state and our society. “
He, however, expressed delight the election was going on smoothly in his area, saying Ekpetiama had remained a peaceful community.
