BEVERLY HILLS, October 25, (THEWILL) – The much awaited Local Government election across the 25 council areas of Delta State was on Saturday characterized by low voters’ turnout amidst pockets of violence in several parts of the state.
There was also heavy presence of soldiers in councils prone to violence during elections in the state.
THEWILL can report that soldiers were deployed very early on the streets of Warri, Effurun, Uvwie in a bid to strictly enforce the restriction of movement from 8.am to 3.pm as ordered state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
THEWILL can also report that accreditation did not commence at 8.am in most parts of the state because the state’s independent electoral commission (DSIEC) had some issues with logistics, according to a senior DSIEC official who asked not be named in this report.
In Koko, the administrative headquarters of Warri North Council, there were reports of violence and snatching of electoral materials. At least 12 cars allegedly belonging to members of the opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC, were damaged by thugs.
THEWILL gathered that Governor Uduaghan, who voted in his hometown of Abigborodo in Warri North, couldn’t vote until about 2:30pm because of the late arrival of voting materials.
In Isoko North Local Government area, the exercise began around 12:pm after the distribution of the voting materials which was escorted to various polling units by armed policemen.
Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovouzorie Macaulay who voted in Owhelogbo ward 1 at about 1:30pm described the election as one of the most peaceful he has witnessed since he became actively involved in politics. Though he acknowledged the late arrival of voting materials in the area and the presence of soldiers, he said that there would be improvement in logistics in subsequent polls.
In Ozoro, the hometown of the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor, there were pockets of skirmishes. THEWILL gathered that Ogor casted his vote around 1.pm.
There were also pockets of violence in Oleh, Uzere, Emede, Enhwe and Irri, all towns in Isoko South Local Government council. THEWILL gathered that there was a protest at Oleh police station over news that election materials were not available for the area.
THEWILL learnt that electoral materials were burnt and destroyed in Emede, the country home of former Commissioner incharge of Special duty Infrastructure, Mrs Erezi Eseivo who recently resigned from the Uduaghan’s administration to seek a seat in Isoko South Constituency.
Chairman of the state Revenue Board, Hon Joel Onowakpo who hails from Emede narrowly escaped mob action at the Oleh Police Station when he visited the area early in the day.
When our correspondent visited Ughelli South Local Government Council, the state deputy governor, Prof Amos Utuama was yet to vote as at about 3.pm in Otu-Jeremi, his home town.
The DSIEC Chief Officer in the area, Barr Isaac Adjekuko told newsmen that the delay in the release of materials was due to activities of opposition party who insisted on seeing the electoral materials.
In Ughelli South, Uwvie, Warri South, Udu, Okpe, Sapele, Warri South West, Ughelli North Ethiope West and East, Sapele election materials had not arrived at most of the polling booths when our reporters visited the areas.
In Okpe-Olomu, Ughelli South council area, materials were still not available as at 11:23am. However, materials arrived Ughelli North council area for distribution at about 11:44am.
In Aniocha, Ika, Ndokwa and Osimili areas of Delta North Senatorial District, elections were generally peaceful and soldiers assisted by policemen helped to enforce the restriction of movement.
Meanwhile, Governor Uduaghan has hailed the elections describing it as “one of the best organised polls.”
Speaking in his Abigborodo hometown shortly after casting his vote at Unit I, Ward 6, located at Abigborodo Primary School Polling Station in Warri North Local Government, the Governor said reports he received indicated that the exercise was largely peaceful in all parts of the State.
A statement from the governor’s office said he acknowledged that there were some hitches, delays and security issues which were promptly dealt with to enable the people exercise their franchise.
The Governor however commended the people of the State for keeping faith with the exercise and expressed happiness that all went well.
Commenting specifically about the exercise in Warri North, Dr. Uduaghan said certain elements wanted to disrupt the exercise but that security was called in to handle the situation.
The statement said the governor “expressed happiness at the huge turnout of voters for the exercise and urged the people of the state to remain peaceful.”
The Chief Electoral Officer, Warri North, Miss Mary Fregene said that voting started at 3 pm due to late arrival of materials, explaining that the heavy rains caused the said late arrival of materials.
According to DSIEC, 65 candidates from various political parties entered the contest for council chairman in the 25 local government areas while over 1000 candidates vied for councillorship seats in the elections.
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