Delta opposition lawmakers dissociate themselves from bribery allegation

Two members of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Efe Ofobruku and Godwin Abigor, both of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, have dissociated themselves from allegations that members of the state legislature are contributing N5million each to bribe the Election Petition Tribunal Panel to decide cases before it in their favour.

 Addressing newsmen in Asaba, Hon Ofobruku, (Uvwie) and Hon. Abigor, Warri South One Constituency condemned the report in its entirety, describing it as wicked, malicious and an attempt to bring the house into disrepute.

The lawmakers stated that they were worried by the insinuation that the Speaker directed all the 28 members of the House of Assembly, to contribute the said amount, allegedly, to bribe the members of the Election Petition Tribunal panel sitting in Asaba, the state capital.

 They drew attention to the fact that about six members of the sixth Assembly have no case at the election petition tribunal as regards the House of Assembly elections in Delta State.

 Hon Ofobruku and Hon Abigor said they were not aware of any financial contribution being made in any quarter to bribe the election petition tribunal, saying it was important to clear their names and that of their party from the insinuations.

 The two lawmakers maintained that there are three election petition tribunals sitting in Asaba, trying different electoral cases, and wondered which one those were peddling the allegations referring to.

They said they are at the tribunal with PDP candidates over their victories at the polls and wondered how the Speaker, who is PDP, would ask non PDP members to contribute money to fight his party’s candidates.
 They dissociated themselves from the allegation and condemned the trend being adopted by some persons who seek to tarnish the image of the house.
 Hon Ofobruku and Hon Abigor also expressed sadness over attempt to give credibility to the said report by alleging that some opposition members in the house, including the SDP and Labour Party members, spoke to a correspondent on the issue.

 They advised the news media to encourage the growth of democracy in Nigeria and avoid being used as tools for spreading lies in the society.