Nembe/Brass: Group raise alarm over alleged N.500billion received by Sonny-Goli to pull out of Reps case

…As the former federal lawmaker concede defeat

Youths under the aegis of ‘New Generation Leaders,’ a group affiliated to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has slammed the former House of Representatives member for Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, for pulling out of the case between him as candidate of the APC and Mrs. Marie Ebikake, candidate of the PDP in the February elections.

In a statement on Thursday, the Yenagoa Coordinator of the group, Comrade Odede Precious, noted that the former lawmaker alleged acceptance of 500million naira bribe from the Bayelsa government to sell off APC’s mandate is totally unacceptable.

Asking Sonny-Goli to apologize to members of the APC and the youths at large, the group gave the former lawmaker three days to return the alleged bribe of N500 million, adding that they will seek justice through every available legitimate means if the lawmaker fails to comply.

“We have credible reports that Sunny-Goli took a N500m bribe from Government House to kill the case.

”What he forgets is that the mandate was ours as a party. We elected him to the state house of Assembly and the National Assembly as well, it wasn’t his place to trade off our party’s mandate.

”If he wants to defect he should by all means defect. But the fact he allegedly accepted a 500million naira bribe from Government house to sell off our party’s efforts for him is totally unacceptable.

”Worse is that he posted pictures of his unholy, racketeering visits to government house at the very day it is believed he took bribes to betray the party that gave him the platform he had and everything to sums his person.

”We hearby give him three days to return the alleged bribe of N500 million, apologize to members of the APC and the great and inspired youths of Bayelsa state. Failure to do that will course us to seek justice through every available legitimate means,” he said.

However, the ex-lawmaker, Hon. Israel Sonny-Goli, has described the allegations as sponsored and work of faceless group.

NAIJA LIVE TV earlier Reported that, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli who is the  immediate past member of the Federal House of Representatives, has accepted the rulling of the Election Petition Tribunal which upheld the February 23rd 2023 House of Representatives election, Hon. Marie Ebikake as member of the Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency of the state.

Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli also congratulated the PDP candidate, Hon. Marie Ebikake and declined the pressure to seek appeal against the Election Petition Tribunal.

Goli had gone to the Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the victory of Marie Ebikake.

But in a statement issued on Thursday in Yenagoa, he said after assessing the recent judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal, delivered on Tuesday, 12th September 2023, which upheld the victory of his opponent in the February 23rd 2023 House of Representatives election, for the Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency, Hon. Marie Ebikake, and the impediment a prolonged legal tussle poses to the development of our constituency, “I have arrived at the conclusion that it is best to accept the decision of the Elections Petitions Tribunal and not go on to appeal its decision.

“My decision is predicated on my personal experience after the 2019 election, wherein, I was dragged before the Election Petition Tribunal and the court of appeal respectively by my opponent, who happens to be the same Hon. Ebikake.

“Without mincing words, I must admit that the legal tussle was unsettling and distractive, and I sincerely do not wish to be a clog in the wheel of progress for the very people I seek to serve, by stretching this legal tussle beyond the Election Petition Tribunal.”

“It is on this note that I congratulate Hon. Marie Ebikake on her victory in the February 2023 House of Representatives election, as well as the favourable judgement she got against me from the Election Petition Tribunal.

” I look forward to seeing her bring the dividends of democracy to our people as she settles down to the business of representing them in the National Assembly.”

“Let me also use this medium to encourage my supporters and followers alike. This is by no means an end to our political aspirations, as the future holds for us, prospects brighter than whatever we may have achieved in the course of our political journey.”

“I implore you to remain calm and hopeful, as this is only a temporary setback in our political voyage and we shall bounce back from it bigger, stronger and better.

“A new chapter with greater prospect awaits us, and soon, we shall have a reason to be thankful for the benevolence of God towards us,” he said.

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