He alluded to the failure of the commission to release sensitive electoral materials, including result sheets and ballot papers, for the elections.
The senator representing Delta South senatorial district in Delta State, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has condemned Saturday's local council elections conducted by the Delta State Independence Electoral Commission (DSIEC).
He alluded to the failure of the commission to release sensitive electoral materials, including result sheets and ballot papers, for the elections.
Speaking while accessing the election in Emede, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state, Joel-Onowakpo accused DSIEC of conniving with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to deny citizens their fundamental rights to vote, effectively rendering the election invalid.
In a statement on behalf of Joel-Onowakpo signed by the senator's Senior Special Adviser, Michael Emumena Paul, he alleged that the PDP was aware of the All Progressives Congress' (APC) readiness to take over local government affairs, and conspired with DSIEC to manipulate the electoral process.
Joel-Onowakpo lamented that the PDP-led government had once again undermined Delta democratic heritage, adding that, "Democracy worldwide is about the will of the people, but DSIEC and the PDP have conspired to deny citizens their right to elect local government leaders. This is undemocratic and unacceptable."
The former chairman, Delta State board of internal revenue, emphasised that the non-release of sensitive materials constituted electoral fraud and compromised the election's integrity even as he advocated for local government autonomy and commended the Federal government and Supreme Court for taking steps towards this goal.
According to the senator, the need for constitutional amendment to transfer the power to constitute state electoral commissions from state governors to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying "Until INEC takes over local government elections, we cannot guarantee the true autonomy of the third tier of government," Senator Joel-Onowakpo concluded.
Meanwhile, the council elections as monitored by SaharaReporters were generally peaceful as candidates of the PDP were leading in early votes despite the heavy downpour.