Delta LG Polls: Chaos As DSIEC Returns 57 PDP Councilors Unopposed

By ‘Dotun Akintomide

The Delta State local government elections on Saturday was marred by crisis and alleged widespread irregularities as the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) announced the return of 57 councilors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who won without opposition candidates’ participation in the poll.

This followed the failure of Delta State main opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties to field candidates against those who occupy the positions and had picked form for the Saturday’s local government elections in the state.

Chairman of DSIEC, Chief Mike Ogbodu, in a press statement, said the 57 PDP councilors are being returned unopposed as no other candidates are in contention with them.

Ogbodu listed ward 4 in Isoko South; wards 5, 9, 10, 16, 18 in Uvwie; wards 1, 3, 6, 11, 18 in Warri North and wards 2, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 in Warri South as among those whose councilors are returned unopposed.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that some armed men on Saturday morning invaded DSIEC office in Ughelli North and set it ablaze after serious sporadic shooting to scare away people.

The youths, who earlier faced a stiff challenge from the police, invaded the office in protest of the non-inclusion of result sheets in the voting materials.

In another development, suspected supporters of PDP and APC attacked themselves in Ellu, Isoko North Council Area, destroying properties.

According to a source from the area, the violence erupted from an APC campaigns rally allegedly invaded by some loyalists of a PDP candidate in the area.

“Some APC members were attacked and their assets destroyed by suspected PDP thugs at Ellu in Isoko North Local Government Area on Saturday morning.”

It was learnt that the said attack, took place near the Ellu townhall within Ellu/Ovrode Ward of Delta State.

The incident, which was reported at the Ozoro Police Station, according to our source, left one John Emobonuovie and Osomowho Idoko with various degree of injuries inflicted on them by the invaders who also destroyed a vehicle and musical instruments.