Delta Re-Run Election; Gloom Cloaks- The Big Heart Special Pre-Election edition (Monday, January 3, 2010)
Delta Re-Run Election; Gloom Cloaks- The Big Heart Special Pre-Election edition (Monday, January 3, 2010)
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1) Preamble: On Wednesday, November 24, 2010, the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) in collaboration with the Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), one of CEHRD’s sub-grantors released a pre-election assessment report which analyzed the pre-election situation, State by State in the entire South-South (Niger Delta region) of Nigeria. That was Report No. 2. 2011 Elections; politics of operation Hit and Discard. In this report, attention is given only to the governorship re-run election in Delta State, which is geographically located in the western delta region of Nigeria. Delta State is fondly called The Big Heart. The field trips which culminated into this report were funded by SDN.
Like other Pre-election reports of CEHRD this special Pre-Election edition is the outcome of intense field trips around the length and breath of Delta State. Eligible voters, non-state armed groups, security officials, NGO actors, community activists, politicians (both in ruling party and opposition parties), government officers, official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the election management body in Delta State and beyond were interviewed. Based on the above review we can make some authoritative predictions about the scenario that will play out in the coming season. This update is an ongoing effort; the assessment is neither a scholarly nor an intellectual one, it is the usual NGO type of analysis. Read on.
2) The Benin Appeal
On Tuesday, November 9, 2010 a Court of Appeal sitting in Benin city, the capital of Edo State annulled the April 14th 2007 governorship elections that made Dr. Emmanuel E. Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), elder cousin (first cousin) of Chief James Ibori, the ex-governor of the state who is currently standing trial in the United Kingdom (UK) for financial crimes while as governor of the state the governor. Ibori’s father is an elder brother of Uduaghan. Uduaghan, a medical doctor and former State Secretary to the Government (SSG) was removed as the governor of the oil-rich Delta State on the above date.
“Pursuant to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin judicial Division which nullified the 14th April, 2007 governorship election in Delta State and ordered INEC to conduct fresh election within 90 days from the date of its judgment- - -, and in compliance with provisions of section 30 of the electoral Act 2010” INEC decided to hold the re-run election on Thursday, January 6, 2010 between 9.00am and noon. Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, the Urohobo-born financier of the failed April 21, 1990 coup popularly called Major Gideon Orkari’s coup against General Ibrahim Badamusi Babangida and space candidate of the Democratic People Party (DPP) brought the court action before the Benin court which deposed Uduaghan.
3) Actors and Actresses in the Delta Drama
Inspite of claims by the Professor Attahiru Jega’s led INEC that it would conduct a free and fair poll, yet often time INEC seems to be threatened by indecision and contradictions. Before the final decision to hold the Delta State re-run on Thursday, January 6, 2010, INEC had proposed several dates in December 2010, February 2011 etc. How it finally settled for this new date is still a surprise to many, in spite of protests by stakeholders in the electoral process.
Fourteen candidates will contest the Delta state governorship re-run, according to a statement released by Dr. Ogbudu Gabriel Ada, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Delta State on Monday, 27th, December 2010, which contained the 14 candidates and their running mates. They are:
1. Accord Party (AP) – Peter Oghenerwogaga (M) and Akinagun Fedelis E. (M) running mate
2. African Democratic Congress (ADC) – Chief Ngozi Ogbogo (F) and Michael Akiele (M) running mate
3. All Nigerian People’s Party ( ANPP) – Chief Veronica Bamutu Mtu (F) and Prince Omughele (M) running mate.
4. Citizens Popular Party (CPP) – Chief Onkpite Ogbe (M) and Mr. Egho Rossy Arogoghene (M) running mate
5. Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) – Mr. Emmanuel Mafiana (M) and Michael A. Sugo (M) running mate
6. Democratic People’s Party (DPP) – Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru (M) and Fidelis Tilije (M) running mate
7. Justice Party (JP) – Donald Chukwuemeka (Esq) (M) and Felix Ovogun O. (M) running mate
8. Labour Party (LP) – Abel Omama O. Edijala (M) and Obed Onwochie (M) running mate
9. Movement for the Restoration and Defense of Democracy (MRDD) – John O. Aje Boghuku (M) and Enibashi Michael (M) running Mate
10. National Majority Democratic Party (NMDP) – Okeya Ojamoro (M) and Dr. Partick Ikenwayo (M) running mate
11. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – Dr. Emmanuel E. Uduaghan (M) and Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) (M) running mate
12. Progressive People Alliance (PPA) – Mr. Jayu Sumonu Isichei (M) and Chief Erobuke Alordiah (M) running mate
13. People’s Redemption Party (PRP) – Ogbini Odafe Emmanuel (M) and Erhuvie Ohuvie Ohinoavwoma (JP) (M) running mate.
14. Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN) – Barrister Ovie Augustine Omo – Agege (M) and Mrs. Carol Chukwudu Mebi Enuha (F) running mate.
4) More Tales of Intrigues of the Delta State Contest
It is important to note that out of the 63 political parties registered in Nigeria, 14 will contest for the Delta State re-run election. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Nigerian’s leading opposition party won’t contest the Delta re-run. Reason! A Court of Appeal in Benin had earlier ruled that Peter Okocha, its candidate in the 2007 election didn’t satisfy the condition for INEC, and that it shouldn’t participate in the 2007 election (i.e. the re-run). The constitution of the then Action Congress (AC) now ACN is shrouded in intrigues and games associated with politics and politicians in Nigeria. Because around 2007 the relationship between President Olusegun Obasanjo then President of Nigeria and his vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had gone sour. Atiku had created another platform; AC outside the PDP as an alternative party to contest the 2007 presidential election, since it was cleared that he won’t get the PDP ticket. So, Ibori, who was an ally of Atiku had also brought AC to Delta State, and allegedly put its structures in place as an alternative plan to PDP in the state, though with the PDP magic he was able to install Uduaghan his cousin as governor after serving two-terms.
Peter Okocha, another of Atiku’s associates got the AC ticket. After getting the ticket due to the mindless looting and impunity that characterized Ibori’s eight unbroken years reign, the Delta State peoples were equally disillusioned and any serious candidate would defeat any of Ibori’s candidates like Uduaghan. Okocha and Ogboru were leading candidates in that election. Though, Peter Okocha and Charles Abule were PDP’s chieftains who left it when they couldn’t get its ticket, to join the AC just to get elected to office like any other person. Few weeks to the April 14th, 2007 governorship elections, Okocha and Abule who were validly elected as AC candidates were disqualified. Professor Maurice Iwu and his partisan INEC citing an administrative panel investigation report doctored by Obasanjo and his cronies to nail Atiku and any of his associates indicted Okocha and Iwu refused to publish AC and its candidates among the list of governorship aspirants for Delta State. Okocha went to court and nullified the report and he participated in the election without a running mate. Charles Obule had returned to PDP to work with Ibori and Uduaghan. Sadly for Peter Okocha too, Sam Egorome, the AC State chairman had allegedly been bought over by Ibori and Uduaghan, and he worked against Okocha a candidate of his party.
Chief Godwills Obeilum, the ex-Rivers State Police boss who is accused with Dr. Peter Odili, ex-governor of Rivers State, of arming rightwing election militias and gangs in Rivers State during Odili’s tenure as governor to flare violence was said to be the preferred PDP governorship candidate for Obasanjo, Odili and Mrs. Mariam Nneamaka, Wife of Dr. Ahmadu Ali, then PDP national chairman and currently board member of Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC). Okocha’s problems were compounded by the corrupt relationship between Iwu and Ibori, and the Scheme against him. A frustrated Okocha after the fraudulent 2007 poll later joined Uduaghan, he had benefited from some of the juicy contracts including Obeilun too. During the 2007 election, a lot of candidates on other smaller political parties were stooges of the Ibori/Uduaghan PDP. For example Accord and others Similar scheme would play out in the coming re-run election.
The Labour Party (LP) has Abel Oma Momo Edijala (M) as its candidate and Mr. Obed Onwochie (M) running mate respectively. They are amongst those cleared by INEC to contest the Delta State re-run election. And the Delta State spokesperson for LP, comrade Onosakponome Donaldson, had described Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as the most credible candidate for the January 6 gubernatorial re-run poll in the State. Speaking to reporters in Lagos State Donaldson urged all Deltans to give Uduaghan another opportunity to do more. He said that the LP candidate is part of Uduaghan’s train, and assured that everybody in the party was solidly behind him (Uduaghan).
Contradictorily, the LP is supposed to be an ideological workers vanguard party built on some radical democratic ideals and socialism, however, the reverse is the case in Nigeria. The party has become like a commodity any person can buy from the market stall with money.
In Nigeria, there are two Electoral Institutes; One, in Yola, Adamawa State capital where Atiku hails from, and another in Oghara, Ibori’s village in the Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State. INEC officials told CEHRD that the institute was supposed to be sited in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, but Ibori allegedly manipulated Iwu in corrupt manner and established it in his village. He built and equipped the institute and handed it over to Iwu and his INEC before he left office in 2007.
5) A profile of the Three Contenders
According to INEC, there 14 political parties and their candidates contending for The Delta State Brick House (Government House). But the main contenders are three. The three contenders are:
i) Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the PDP: A lot of people spoken to, including members of PDP continued to express their dissatisfaction with the Ibori/Uduaghan’s impunity. He hails from Abigborodo community in the Warri North Local Government Area. He is of the ethnic Itsekiri group.
ii) Chief Great Ogboru hails from Abraka in the Ethiope-East Local Government Area of the Urhobo group, but his mother hails from the Kwale of the Ndokwa sub-group of the Anioma people (Ibo speaking group). The area comprising Ika, Ndokwa and Aniocha/Oshimili Local Government Areas of Delta State. Ogboru is the DPP candidate.
iii) Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege hails from the same Urhobo nation like Ogboru. He comes from Orogun community, in the Ughelli North Local Government Area. Omo-Agege is the son of Justice Omo-Agege, a retired Judge of the High Court and ex-chairman of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DESIEC) who conducted the fraudulent local government elections in 1999 which gave all the seats in the 25 local government areas of the state to the PDP. Augustine, a lawyer who had spent several years in the US during the Ibori’s tenure and was made executive Assistant and later Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Those interviewed accused Augustine of aiding the PDP to cock the treacherous 2006 voter register which the PDP used in rigging the elections throughout the state. He is currently seeking to contest the governorship on the platform of the Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN). Though, his ticket is in controversy as Mrs. Nkem Madezia, claims that she is the right person to fly the party’s rerun ticket since she was deputy to Olorigun Felix Azorbo, the RPN candidate who died after the 2007 election. Mr. Mohammed Shittu, the national chairman of the RPN has issued a public statement that Madezia left the party in 2008, relying on Article 21, section 4 of his party’s constitution, “A member can only be qualified or eligible to contest any election unless that member of the party has been a financial member of the party for at least three months before the date of such election”.
On Friday, December 24 about 12.15pm at the J.F. Kennedy Square, Refinery Road at Effurun near Warri, Delta State, Omo-Agege whose sister works at INEC headquarters in Abuja as director of political parties monitoring during his colourful declaration revealed, “ACN and RPN in Delta State are one” ACN party leaders in Delta State confirmed to CEHRD that they are working for RPN. The RPN’s candidate’s sister in INEC is accused of aiding Ibori and Uduaghan in the electoral frauds they committed over the years
6) Vestiges of Bloody Election Looms
Delta State has 25 Local Government Areas, according to recent census figure, the state is said to have 4, 098. 391in population, while INEC said it has 1.5 million registered voters scattered over 270 registration areas and 3,625 polling units. Contrary to what happened in other places in the 2003 general elections, in Delta State comparatively speaking, there was no significant violence recorded in the Delta; except for some skirmishes in parts of Isokoland (Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Areas) etc. In 2007, angry disenfranchised eligible voters burnt INEC office at Obiarku headquarters of Ukwani Local Government Area.
One Significant note we need to take about the 2007 election is that what triggered the violence that swept throughout the state was the criminal conspiracy of the INEC officials both from the state and Abuja. In Ovwien Community, the voters were given fake voting materials and reserved the original for the PDP, and when the voters discovered such, there was a sweeping revolt. At a unit in Ovwien in the Udu Local Government Area, an INEC presiding officer was killed. In Abraka, Chief Ogboru’s supporters angered by the malpractices and rigging by the PDP, a PDP chieftain’s house there was razed down, two persons including a pregnant woman was killed. In the Udu Local Government Area again, the home of some people suspected to be PDP rigging pointmen were razed down and persons killed. The home of Dr. Ekakitie, a former lecturer of Delta State University (DELSU) was burnt down; around there seven persons were butchered and others injured. An unprecedented wave of violence swept major towns in Delta State. The affected places were Agharho in Ughelli North Local Government, Okpare in Ughelli South Local Government, Egbo in Ughelli Local Government, Owelogbo in Isoko South Local Government, Effurum in Uvwien Local Government. Cars houses and monies were burnt to ashes. Security officials like mobile policemen and soldiers on election duty provided cover for PDP thugs and goons who rigged the elections. In Aniocha North Local Government, Victor Ochie, a member of the Delta State House of Assembly in Collaboration with INEC’s Electoral Officer (EO) allegedly diverted the materials meant for the entire local government area, to his country home in his Ezi Village Community and conducted the elections there. Those who spoke to CEHRD around Ughelli again, alleged that Augustine Omo-Agege was one of the PDP chieftains who wrote those fake figures for PDP in the Ughelli axis.
CAN INEC DELIVER?
In Delta State, because of its past antecedents, those interviewed expressed total loss of confidence in INEC to conduct any credible elections in Delta State. A lot of community groups, NGOs including CEHRD and activists, the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Chief Great Ogboru had criticized INEC over its plan to use the discredited Maurice Iwu’s voters register of 2006 to conduct the Delta State re-run. Though, Ovie Omo-Agege, the candidate of the RPN had openly condemned Ogboru for saying that election should be postponed. Perhaps, Omo-Agege knows how to do the magic since he was allegedly part of that fraud. Coalition of Deltans for Free and Credible Election (COSEFC) led by the veteran trade unionist and ex-leader of Natural Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori had threatened to boycott the poll. Over 100 of its placard-carrying members stormed INEC state headquarters at NTA Road, Off Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State and criticized the commission, and asked her to provide credible voters registration.
Femi Falana, Nigeria’s foremost political activist and national chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) advised the Independent National Electoral C omission (INEC) to postpone the Delta State Governorship re-run election. The Urhobo Leadership Forum, Abuja had written a letter dated 29th December, 2010 to Professor Attahiru Jega to allow Delta State the opportunity of One-man-One-vote in the re-run election “Sir, we are baffled that INEC has chosen to use the much discredited 2007 voters register and hold the re-run election on January 6th, 2011-within 60 days instead of the 90 days granted by the court of Appeal judgment which would have given ample time for a new/update of voters register to be completed prior to the election. We are also baffled that the chairman has spoken much about the new look INEC but hardly any word on the re-run election which is its first real test”. The open letter to the chairman, INEC read in parts. There are also others urging INEC not to postpone polls.
Dr. Ogbudu Gabriel Ada, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) while addressing a press conference at INEC headquarters in Asaba on Saturday, January1, 2010 declared that there was no going back on Delta re-run election. He claimed that, “We have an updated register that would help us conduct a free and fair election”. He said that the issue of late arrival of materials, personnel to the polling stations had been adequately taken care of. However, INEC is not yet decided whether it will hold elections in areas where its offices due to its criminal collusion with PDP madcap politicians were burnt in 2007. Dr. Ogbudu has been speaking from both sides of his mouth over this. On Saturday January 1, 2010, CEHRD’s researcher was at INEC’s office in Asaba, in line with section 20 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, an updated voters register for the governorship re-run election slated for Thursday, January 6, 2010 was not available to the public. CEHRD observed poor logistic arrangement, new INEC vehicles, boats etc were not sited. Though, the staff there were willing to carry on their duties, but a high level of anger, disillusionment and apathy hovered over the poor structure and poorly built houses there. The stage seems vulnerable to corrupt influences from politicians. INEC had not done enough publicity about the re-run elections. A lot of people who are willing to vote during the election don’t even know the parties they will vote for, their symbols, though some of them know the individual candidate (s). Based on the above lapses, CEHRD is deeply concerned about claims to conduct a free and fair poll. Until the time of this report, the INEC headquarters in Abuja had not issued accreditation letters to NGO’s, Journalists etc. to monitor the re-run election. This is a serious indictment on the electoral process. The frustration with the 2007 electoral fraud in the state has made a lot of people interviewed disillusioned to the extent of destroying their voters cards. We do not know how INEC will address this.
VIOLENCE, UNCERTAINTY SNOOPS AGAIN
One of the greatest undoing of the PDP is its huge investment in rigging and other criminal and knavish electoral practices. PDP never invested in mobilizing the people. In a free and fair election, Dr. Uduaghan and his PDP wouldn’t win the Delta State re-run. There is high level of anger and hatred against the Ibori/Uduanghan Government. For example, in December, 2010, a court deposed the chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, of the PDP and installed a candidate of the DPP. In the last May, 2007 Local Government elections were marred by PDP induced violence, rigging and manipulations.
The just conducted PDP ward congress of Tuesday, December 28, 2010, to select ward delegates that will vote candidates during the primaries, in Aniocha North Local Government there were two factions of the PDP. Violence broke-out during the congress. Uduaghan was accused of fueling factionalizations there. In previous elections, this area witnessed high intensity of violence unleashed by PDP thugs. This is part of the area under the Delta North Senatorial district. Dr. Author Ifeanyi Okonwa, former SSG in the state is eyeing in the April, 2011 poll. Freelance election militias are revealed by security agents to CEHRD that they are recruited in this axis. We need to watch this axis.
On Friday December 31, 2010, a colourful campaign train of chief Ovie Omo –Agege was disrupted by heavily armed thugs allegedly loyal to Uduaghan at Koko, the Itsekiri Community in the Warri North Local Government Area. This is an area under Uduaghan’s thugs, though he is not quite popular here, we need to keep our watchful eyes on the entire Warri North Local Government for possible outbreak of violence and other forms of electoral malpractices, because the level of extremity by Uduaghan’s team to take all the votes here is frightening. This is another place to watch.
The brutal assassination of Mr. Paul Atie by unknown gunmen on December 30, 2010 near Ughelli central motor park in the Ughelli North Local Government Area at about 7.00pm is worrisome. Atie was a former Transition Committee Chairman of Patani Local Government, Chieftain of the PDP and publicity Secretary of Raymos Guanah 2011 campaign organization. His Toyota Avensis car was intercepted by the suspected assassins who ordered him to enter their car, when the victim pleaded with them to take his car and cash and leave him, this angered the gunmen numbering four, they shut him dead. Raymos Guanah, an ex-Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the Uduaghan’s government has indicated his interest to challenge some legislators who had spent their third terms in office from the Patani, Bomadi and Burutu areas of the state. The deceased being the publicity secretary of Guanah’s Campaign group was articulating and spearheading this campaign. The victim was said to have been trailed to a filling station (petrol station) near Ughelli Central Motor Park and shut dead. The Ughelli (whether north or south) has had histories of electoral violence. It should be on our radar.
Professor Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman was quoted in the Nigerian media to have said that the high rate of insecurity in the country would threaten the overall success of the 2011 election. Noting that insecurity was the major problem of past elections in the country, the INEC boss revealed that elections could not be successful in the country if the atmosphere was not peaceful for them to hold the election. The indicators are quite clear; insecurity will threaten the poll in some places.
RECOMMENDATIONS
i. To the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
* Conduct the re-run election in the most transparent, non partisan and sincere manner in accordance with relevant electoral legislations.
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* Don’t use any of your officials who carried out electoral malpractices in previous elections such person or persons should be thoroughly investigated and if found guilty should be duly punished. Keep watch eyes on your officials.
* Work with Civil Society and other stakeholders in the process to ensure transparency in the re-run election.
* Deploy resources in the most honest way and conduct the election to achieve good results.
ii. To the Nigeria’s Security Agencies
* Without being told you owe Nigeria and its people the primary duty of maintaining law and order in the most responsible, non-partisan and sincere way, so this re-run election responsibilities. Be honest and do the right thing as the law requires of you.
* Take actions as the law stipulates against any person or group of persons irrespective of class, religion, tribe or status any person who either by act of omission, overtly or covertly does any thing that threatens the re-run election.
* Again, in discharging your duty be central, non-partisan, and patriotic and respect people’s constitutional rights.
The End
For any comment, question and suggestion please contact the Election team of the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), No.6 Obo Nwanke Street, Post office Building, Ogale-Nchia, Eleme, Rivers State, Nigeria, West Africa. Telephone:- 08033367823, [email protected], [email protected], Website- www.cehrd.org
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