…As DSIEC Reschedules Ughelli North and Ethiope East Elections.
By Michael Odiah
The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), on Sunday January 7, 2017 announced the results of the just concluded local government elections in the State.
Announcing the results at the DSIEC Headquarters in Asaba, the Chairman, Barr. Mike Ogbodu said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won Twenty Three chairmanship seats and 424 councillorship seats across the state while the All Progressive Congress (APC) won one councillorship seat in Aniocha North local government area.
The Chairman stated that the result of the councillorship election for Otor-Owhe Ward 1 (DSIEC Ward 09) of Isoko North Government Area is yet to be declared owing to an order of the High Court of Justice, Delta State sitting at Ibusa.
In the two councils where elections were canceled due to reported violence, Ogbodu announced that, elections will be conducted in Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government on Tuesday January 9.
Meanwhile, All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the state has rejected the council polls stating that the election was a complete sham.
In a press release signed by the state chairman of APC, Jones Ode Erue, the party stated that, the Delta State Local Government Council election that transpired on January 6, 2018, with Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, as the umpire was a total sham that cannot stand the test of a credible, free and fair election as required by democratic principles.
Part of the statement titled ‘DELTA STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL ELECTION WAS A TOTAL SHAM’ reads, “To let it stand would be that DSIEC has in connivance with the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, perpetuated a greedy and political dynasty that is already gasping for life.” insisting that the election was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the provisions set out in the DSIEC Law 2017 for the following reasons
“Sensitive election materials were not delivered as expected to most of the polling units where the actual elections were due to take place; Where materials were even delivered, they did not arrive on time as most were hijacked and re-directed along the way, and it was observed upon a close examination that the result sheets did not accompany the materials in most of the LGAs”.
