A battle line has been drawn between Delta State former ex-convict Governor, James Ibori and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over Thursday's dissolution of Moses Ogbe's led Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) by the State House of Assembly, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report.
A personal aide to former Governor Ibori who confided in SaharaReporters disclosed that Ibori has drawn a battle line with incumbent Governor Okowa for using the legislature to dissolve the commission without any consultation before sacking his nominee, who is the chairman of the commission.
"Though I am not permitted to speak on the issue, I can authoritatively tell you that my boss felt slit by Governor Okowa without any form of consultations before going ahead to sack the commission. Oga was very furious and that Okowa is biting more than he can chew. For some time now Okowa has been doing things to slit Oga, he has been taking Oga for a ride, and Oga has not been happy with him. The commission is statutory and that supposed to end next year."
"The other day, my boss, His Excellency, former Governor James Ibori read with pain on the news how Governor Okowa sold off Delta Line Company to an Ibo man without consultations, he is running DESOPADEC as his own personal estate against the wishes of the people of the oil bearing communities in the state and so many other things he is doing which does not go well with Oga." Ibori's aide said.
Ibori's aide said Mr. Okowa is afraid of conducting a credible local government election.
"The present local government administration will elapse in October and for fear of defeat, Governor Okowa has decided to use all available tactics to put in place a new board that can sit down and write results for his hand picked candidates. He has failed the people. He promised not to use caretaker committees, but with the hand writing on the wall Okowa will end up using them. What a failed administration," he added.
Delta State House of Assembly dissolved the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) on Thursday, citing defects and shortcomings in the law establishing the commission during Uduaghan's administration.
The dissolution followed a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Tim Owhefere, seconded by Mr. Samuel Mariere, a member representing Ughelli North 1 Constituency and was unanimously adopted.
According to Owhefere, "Due to the exigencies of the nation's fast moving democracy, the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission be now dissolved in line with section 7(1) of the DSIEC law 2012", stating that the development was necessitated by noticeable defects and shortcomings in the electoral process as a result of the law establishing the commission which is currently before the House for amendment.
Owhefere stated that the dissolution will enable the House to work on a proposed new DSIEC law that would enhance the electoral process in the state and thereafter the House Speaker, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, who presided over plenary, called for a vote by members after which the commission was dissolved.
