Bayelsa Poll: REC Accused Of N200m Bribe

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Bayelsa , Baritor Kpagih has been accused of collecting two hundred million naira bribe from Governor Seriake Dickson.

Sahara Reporters reported that the supervisory presiding officer (SPO) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Francis Asmakia Ted made the accusation.

Ted in an affidavit of facts alleged that Dickson offered Kpagih N1 bllion bribe to illegally sway the December 5, 2015, election in favour of the incumbent governor adding that the N200 million was the initial payment bribe that was made to Kpagih.

The SPO further stated that the bribe was the reason that Kpagih allegedly ignored the violence and irregularities in the following local government areas of Ogbia, Ekeremor and Nembe and rather focused on the violence in Southern Ijaw local government leading to the declaration of election in that local government as inconclusive.

Ted made this strong allegation in letter dated December 22, 2025 to the chairman of INEC, Mahmud Yakubu .

The REC, Kpagih had earlier stated in a recent interview that a particular candidate offered him money to rig the election in his favour. He, however, disclosed that he declined the bride and stated that his life was threatened as a result of the decline.

Ted insisted that the REC allegedly accepted the bribe from Dickson.

The SPO said: “Mr. Kapigh provided me with firm and specific instructions to report directly to him and gave me the mandate to gather all relevant information and draft intelligence reports across the State to assist him in his duties, which I carried out diligently.”