The Bayelsa State Government has alleged that some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state diverted palliatives sent by the Federal Ministry of Regional Development to assist flood victims.
Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, revealed that while the state government received 2,000 bags of rice, mosquito nets, cooking stoves, and other relief items, intelligence suggested additional materials were withheld and distributed among APC stakeholders.
Koku-Obiyai criticized the quantity of palliatives provided, noting that “2,000 bags of rice are not even enough for a ward or constituency.” She clarified that the state had earlier received ₦3 billion from the Federal Government for flood relief, which was spent on community outreach and support for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In response, APC’s Assistant Publicity Secretary in Bayelsa, Mr. Coronation Tokpo, dismissed the accusations as baseless, arguing that federal palliatives are allocated to states, not political parties. Tokpo countered that APC members in Bayelsa have historically been excluded from receiving palliatives due to party biases in distribution.
The controversy underscores growing political tensions in Bayelsa as both parties prepare to support affected communities during the festive period.