The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Abdullahi Bello, popularly known as ‘Dollar,’ urged the police and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the reported killing of a party member during the recent election due to alleged ballot box snatching.
Bello reiterated the APC’s demand for the arrest and prosecution of Senator Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate in the Kogi off-cycle poll.
He emphasized that this action is essential despite the anticipated reconciliation promised by the governor-elect, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
While acknowledging the governor-elect’s reconciliation efforts, Bello maintained that it’s crucial for the PDP gubernatorial candidate to face legal proceedings regarding his alleged involvement in cybercrime.
He emphasized that in Kogi, especially in the Confluence State, engaging in thuggery during elections no longer yields rewards. The politician highlighted that only through a thorough investigation into the killing of the party member involved in ballot box snatching can the true perpetrators behind this heinous crime be revealed.
Bello said, “Thuggery can no longer win election in modern day society especially in Kogi State where criminalities have no place; and where criminals have been chased out.
“I am happy because President Bola Tinubu has brought sanity into the system. I give kudos to the security operatives who curbed the excesses of those criminals.
“Some of them were running to Abuja when you have a Commissioner of Police here in Kogi. If you know your hands are clean, why running to Abuja? Let them stay here and face whatever crime they have committed.
“If the deceased has truly committed the offence, (snatched ballot box), we want to know. Let the police carry out a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.”
He insisted that Dino should not evade accountability for his alleged involvement in cybercrime, emphasizing that no one, regardless of status, is exempt from the laws of the land.
He said, “Crime is crime. If he (Dino) has commimited any offence, let him face the law. He is not above the law of the land. He must be called in for questioning. If he is innocent, he will be freed. If not, let him face it.
“Will you say because Ododo has won election and thieves should come to your house, will you say in the spirit of reconciliation, the thieves should be allowed to operate freely because we are in a period of reconciliation? No!
“I will not support the idea of bringing evil doers into the fold. If you are an evil doer, you must be made to pay for your crimes.
“The truth is that the man you are talking about is well known as a man who talks carelessly. His choice of words are too raw. He doesn’t look civilised. Out of his utterances, he wouldn’t know when he would be committing an offence.
“Let him come out and tell the public what right he has got to hack into INEC’s portal. So it’s not about me. If they feel they want to do something about it, so be it. He is not above the law. People should learn to respect constituted authority and institutions such as INEC,” Bello pointed out.
