As series of protest by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), continues to trail Saturday’s local government council’s election in Delta state, the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has declared 23 chairmanship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winners.
Declaring the results on Sunday at the DSIEC headquarters, Asaba, the commission’s Chairman Mr. Moses Ogbe stated that the commission had to cancelled the results of Ndokwa East local government area, citing violence. The results of Ethiope East LGA was declared as ‘inconclusive.’
DSIEC stated that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won in Uvwie, Aniocha North, Ika South-East, Patani, Sapele, Ethiope West, Burutu, Oshimili North, Ndokwa West, Udu, Okpe, Ika South, Bomadi, Warri North, Isoko North, Ughelli South, Warri South, Oshimili South, Ughelli North, Ukwuani and Warri South-West.
Mr. Ogbe further stated that the chairmanship candidates of the PDP Ethiope West and Patani LGA were returned unopposed because none of the opposition political parties in the areas fielded candidates.
While hailing the conduct of the election by the commission which he described as peaceful, Ogbe claimed that some politicians in the state tried to foment trouble in an attempt to disrupt the election processes, but failed.
According to him, “well ahead of time, we distributed the non-sensitive materials and we also received the sensitive materials and deposited them at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Between Wednesday and Friday, the commission carried out the sorting of the materials and by Friday between 2pm and 3pm, all the materials meant for the election went to the 25 council areas."
Ogbe stated the local government election will serve as a litmus test for all Nigerians especially as the 2015 general elections approaches.
Meanwhile, the results of Isoko South local government area which was being awaited to arrive the commission’s headquarters, after the declaration of every other local government areas caused serious apprehension to the people of the council who have besieged the commission waiting for several hours, but immediately the name of one Sir Itiako Constantine Ikpokpo Malik of the PDP was declared as winner at about 10:30 pm, uncontrollable jubilation rented the air around the commission.
The Isoko South result was the last to be declared by the commission after declaring other councils since 5pm. DSIEC officials attributed the delay to the later arrival of the results and final collation.
Speaking with journalists later an elated Ikpokpo promised the people of Isoko South what he called “good governance,” saying “my responsibility is to try as much as possible to spread the dividends of democracy to our people. According to my campaign slogan which is “It’s possible, let’s Do it.”
SaharaReporters reliably learnt that the council chairmen will be sworn-in on Monday by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan at the government house, Asaba.
Although DSIEC and the Delta State government claims the elections were fee and fair, SaharaReporters noted that election materials arrived very late to several polling areas across the state.