By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

Governor Seriake Dickson has challenged the Federal Government to absolve itself from claims made by supporters of the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, that federal might will be deployed to manipulate the December 5 poll in their favour.

He also called on voters who participated in the last continuous voter exercise to go collect their permanent voter cards from the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission and other designated centres to enable them participate in the state governorship election billed for Saturday.

Dickson who spoke at a stakeholders meeting organised by INEC Tuesday in Yenagoa said name-dropping should not only be dismissed with a wave of the hand but properly investigated with a view to prosecuting those behind such unfounded claims which according to him, are capable of making the electorate lose confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.

The governor also stressed the need for people occupying sensitive positions in federal agencies to be mindful of what they say and do in order not to heat up the polity.

“But my position as governor and even as a candidate is that security agencies need maximum support as they have the support of the government and people of this state to move against anybody whether the person is a member of the PDP, APC or any party, there should be no discrimination.

Elder Wilberforce Igiri the All Progressives Congress, APC, running mate who represented the APC candidate, Timipire Sylva at the event lamented the killing of one of their supporters    in Ekeremor Local Government Area    and attack on APC convoy    at Biseni.

He said “In Ekeremor Local Government Area, one of our supporters was murdered. Also, our convoy was attacked in Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area. My 103 year old mother was also kidnaped because I am contesting an election, please the Inspector General of Police should please help us to investigate the these issues..