GUBER POLL: Ortom has set aside N380m to bribe electoral officers, Benue APC claims

The Benue State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has alleged that Governor Samuel Ortom plans to induce electoral officers in the state with money during the next governorship and Houses of Assembly polls.

According to the party in a statement, Ortom is plotting to dole out the sum of N380 milion to electoral officers in a bid to retain his seat at all cost.

The statement added that Ortom plans to share the huge sum among staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ad-hoc staff employed to ensure he is re-elected into office.

Read also: APC’s Omo-Agege narrowly secures Senatorial re-election

The statement by the APC reads thus: “Nigerians would recall that the governor had on various occasions boasted that he was going to win the forthcoming elections by all means. According to the plan by the governor and PDP in Benue State, INEC ad-hoc staff in the 5,102 polling units and voting points will be given N75,000 for refreshment, amounting to N382,650,000.

“In a similar manner, Ward Collation Officers in the 276 council wards in Benue State are to go home with N150,000 each. It is further alleged that each of the 23 local government electoral officers, EOs, will get N1,500,000 as ‘understanding’ fee.

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Benue State is not left out in the largess as N500 million has been earmarked for him to be paid through a royal father in the state. Votes are to be bought in all the polling units with N300, 000 (N1,530,600,000 for 5,102 PUs) set aside per polling unit for that purpose,” the party added.

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