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INEC Office In Delta State Razed-Channelstv

January 4, 2011

Two days to the governorship re-run election in Delta state, the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] office in Ughelli North, has been razed down by arsonists, while three persons were killed at Orogun town after a clash between supporters of two governorship candidates, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege of the Republican Party of Nigeria [RPN] and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

Two days to the governorship re-run election in Delta state, the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] office in Ughelli North, has been razed down by arsonists, while three persons were killed at Orogun town after a clash between supporters of two governorship candidates, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege of the Republican Party of Nigeria [RPN] and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

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The clash at Chief Omo-Agege's hometown was perhaps retaliation on the part of his supporters who were prevented from entering Koko North Local Government Area where Dr. Uduaghan hails from.

The attack on INEC's office at Ughelli North in the night leaves many wondering what would happen to the electorates in the area, if the materials have been destroyed.

Also pertinent is the issue of security during and after the election.

Prior to this time, hundreds of protesters had stormed the same INEC office in Delta state to protest against INEC's alleged plan to use the old voter register for the rerun election in the state.

The commission had told registered political parties in the state that the old voter register would be used for the rerun.

But, INEC was told to bury its head in shame following the flaws that necessitated the recent upturn of the 2007 general election results in some states.

A renowned human rights activist, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, led the protest, staged under the aegis of Deltans for Peaceful and Credible Election.

Kokori, the former NUPENG Secretary-General, accused the commission of collaborating with a frontline candidate in the rerun to scuttle the chances of others.

He said the group is aware that billions of naira have been doled out by the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to shortchange other candidates.

He said: "Tell your boss here in Delta that speculation is rife that some billions of naira have exchanged hands between the commission and a gubernatorial candidate in the state.

I don't want to believe that INEC of today could be settled. Please, do the right thing."

Kokori, who referred to the National Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega as a "junior comrade", warned the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ogbudu Ada, not to do anything "silly" to discredit Jega's "hard- earned credibility".

He called on INEC to still display the old voter register.

Source ChannelsTv

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