By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has lashed out at   Governor Seriake Dickson for setting up what it described as a “strange judicial commission” on electoral violence with its  members as clear targets.

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APC State Publicity Secretary Dofie Buokoribo at a media interaction yesterday in Yenagoa advised members of the party not to have anything to do with the panel.

His words, “Following the Presidential and National Assembly elections, Governor Dickson established what he called a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence that marked the exercise.

“Now, Dickson is a major player and beneficiary of the general elections. Yet, he is inaugurating a Commission of Inquiry. This is clearly against the rules of natural justice. A man cannot be a judge in his own case.

“More than that, the general elections were federal elections governed by the Electoral Act. As a matter of fact, they are on the Exclusive Legislative list, the state government has no role to play.

“On these grounds, we reject Governor Dickson’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry.    Accordingly, the APC in Bayelsa State would like to advise its members not to have anything to do with the commission.

“The Electoral Act has already prescribed the relevant punishment for any offence that has to do with the elections.

“This strange Judicial Commission of Governor Dickson is a witch-hunt with our members as the targets. Under Dickson, our members have always been victims of his needless aggression.

“Finally, we welcome the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to increase the presence of the armed and security forces in a number of states, including Bayelsa.”