25 Local Governments in Delta State
THE SUN
Uduaghan, Ogboru in neck and neck race
•Defective voters' register, poor logistics mar poll
From BUCHY ENYINNAYA and FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Asaba
Friday, January 07, 2011
The landslide victory expected by the ruling People Democratic Party in the Delta State governorship rerun election is becoming a mirage, as the race has become too close to call.
There are 14 contestants for the gubernatorial seat.
However, as at press time, the two major contenders were former governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). Both candidates are running neck and neck and either of them could emerge winner.
Huhuonline.com exit polls result showed that Uduaghan was leading in Ika North East, Ika South, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Ethiope West Local Government Areas while Ogboru was ahead in Oshimili South, Ndokwa West, and Uvwie Local Government Areas.
Despite the claim by the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, of having cleaned up the voters' register for the Delta State governorship rerun election, the register fell short of expectations as many voters were disenfranchised because their names were not found in the register for accreditation. Prospective voters searched frantically for their names unsuccessfully even when they were armed with their voters' cards.
However, the election went peacefully and voters turn out very impressive save for the report of hijack of materials in Oshimilli North and Warri South Local Government Areas and a protest by the electorate in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area, who were aggrieved that their names were not in the voters' register, demanding that they be made to vote by any arrangement INEC could make.
Also, accreditation started late as the exercise billed to start by 9am did not start until 11am in some places even when election proper was scheduled by 12pm. Some of the voters were seen waiting patiently for Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) officials to come and accredit them.
To assuage the emotions of the aggrieved voters whose names were missing from the register, the INEC officials promptly directed them to check out their names in other polling units.
For instance, in Sapele Local Government Area Ward 4, a total of 94 voters' names appeared in the register but only 27 could find their names for accreditation, prompting the protest by the youths against their disenfranchisement. To register their annoyance, the youths, on sighting newsmen, chanted protest songs "we want vote, we want vote, INEC find our names." At Abigborodo, in Warri North Local Government Area, country home of the former governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, voters turned out en mass as early as 8:00am but could not be attended to until about 10am because the INEC personnel arrived late.
In some other voting centres, campaign posters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate were strategically displayed at the entrance gates of the voting centres. This development made some officials on duty to caution the party agents at Ogwa-Umudunkwu Umunze, Ogwashiuku in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state, and instructed them to remove them.
It was also observed that only one corp member manned each of the polling units contrary to INEC's earlier explanation that at least two corp members would take charge.
Interestingly, while the INEC claimed that about 25,000 security personnel had been deployed for the election, there was visibly no policemen at some of the polling units around the state, especially in the riverrine areas. Part of the reason for the delay in the conduct of the election was lack of proper coordination for transportation of materials, security and INEC officials to their points of duty.
Specifically, at Ijedinka Primary School, Ward 5, in Aniocha South Local Government Area, a member of the PDP volunteered to carry the INEC materials to a voting centre at Aniagbala in the Aniocha South Local Government Area after much delay.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who monitored the election, using helicopter, touched down in some areas to observe the voting and access the situation. Dr. Uduaghan arrived his country home at about 10:30am and was accredited by 10:46am at polling unit 1, Abigborodo ward 6. He expressed optimism that he was going to win and that he was impressed by the large turn-out of the voters, whom he said were enthusiastic. Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN) candidate, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, was accredited at 1:20pm. He told newsmen that there were cases of election materials hijack in Oshimili North and Warri South West Local Governmnt Areas, and that it was because the PDP had no marketable candidate.
He said he was of the belief that the number of the validly cast votes would give him victory. He, however, expressed dissatisfaction with irregularities in some parts of the State.
He, however, expressed belief that the number of valid votes in the election would give him victory, adding that the irregularities would fail, since only the valid votes would be count in the election.
Daily Sun's observations of the election in Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Isoko South, Isoko North and Patani, indicated that ballot materials were released to wards in Ughelli North at about 9:15am, same in Ughelli South and Patani, except for the two Isoko Local Government Areas where materials were released at about 10:30am.
Also at Igbide, Isoko South ward seven, electoral officers were whisked to the palace of a traditional ruler for safety for lack of adequate security. It was the same in Uzere, were ballot papers were allegedly hijacked by the PDP. Some youths alleged to have hijacked materials in Ughelli and Ozoro were arrested by the police.
The immediate past deputy governor, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN), commended the peaceful conduct of the polls. He cast his vote at 12.53pm at Unit 4 of Jeremi Ward in Ughelli South Local Government Area. He made the remark while fielding questions from reporters after casting his ballot.
Utuama commended the INEC and the various security agencies for the orderly manner voters conducted themselves.
He said: "INEC has done very well in their mobilisation since yesterday. The materials arrived quite early yesterday and information reaching me is that all parts of the local government (Ughelli South) have been covered." Acting speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Basil Ganagana, voted at his Patani home at 12:26pm, in his Bulu-Agiama ward polling unit. Ganagana, who spoke to newsmen, expressed satisfaction with voters turn-out and adequate preparation for the election and commended INEC for the early arrival of voting materials.
Jega, who arrived Ughelli at about 2:22pm, ordered that the ballot material meant for some wards in Ughelli be taken back to Asaba, adding that he would make a statement on the issue later. A former Commissioner for Water Resources in the state, Mr. George Timinimi, could not vote because a different picture appeared against his name in the register. Timinimi was also referred to as 23-year-old student. He lamented that the election would not produce a credible outcome.
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Sahara Reporters
Delta State Election Re-Run: Live Reports
Ballot box for Warri playground -Upper Erejuwa has been snatched by thugs loyal to the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
PDP militants shot into the air to chase away legitimate voters before snatching the ballot boxes.
-Voting has commenced and is going on smoothly,for now, in all Ukwuani local govt area.
-Voting is going on smoothly in eku town hall in ward 9 in Ethiope East. Centre point
-Voting has started in all the wards visited in Oshimili North & South & Aniocha North & South. Security agents are keeping the peace.
-Warri SW in comatose. DPP agents have been beaten up with guns in Isaba ward. Ogbe Ijoh ward boxes hijacked by PDP thugs.
PDP has set up bases near polling stations in Oshimili North from where they are distributing money to voters .
Hundreds of Voters are disenfranchised at Obiaruku Ward 2
PDP militants shooting in the air along Eku-Amukpe road near Aragba Town Hall in Okpe LGA to scare away voters.
-Ballot boxes and election materials snatched at gun point on Eboh Street.
-No elections in Ikengbuwa 3 units
-Ballot box, Youth Corper and police kidnapped and taken away in black SUV Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number TP 887 KJA. Police officer is Sgt. Okpokunu Frank incident at Edjeba wardbUnit 10/015.
-At Unit 007 Edeide Agbara Otor voting disrupted by a boy popularly known as Odidigboigbo.
-one police Oji Thomas by name with police number 413073 helping the PDP to rig de election unit 6, E9 6709046 Jesse town.
-Ughelli north LG chairman and his thugs carried away voting materials for Agbarah 3 unit.
-As at 1.54 pm in the Isoko axis of Delta State accreditation is just taking place as several locations are still waiting for accreditation. There are complaints insecurity as very few police personnel are available. Benjamin Efekoda, Delta State House Assembly member representing Isoko South brought in military personnel to intimidate voters. A large number of voters complain that their names were missing from the voters register as the registered contained fictitious names.
-Ballot box snatching reported in Apala, Ugboroke and Cementary road by Warri garage all Warri metropolitan area.
-Sapele LGA: In Sapele metro, serious violence is reported. Delta state commissioner P.D.O Akpeki is leading heavily armed PDP thugs to rain serious blows on voters as well as INEc officials. There are reports of injuries.
SaharaReporters spoke to INEC chair spokesperson, Kayode Idowu, who confirms that Warri, Sapele, and Ukparape have been confirmed as problematic areas.
Burutu Local Government Area: As at 2:20 PM (Nigerian time) accreditation or election did not commence. Chief Edwin Clark confirms that material had just arrived as of 2: 40 PM.
Some problematic officials named so far: Kenneth Ibru, chair of the Ughelli North Local government. One Sherrif a Governor Uduaghan's assistant is allegedly terrorising voters near Isubi airport in Warri.
-Hon. Abubiwa, Uvwie local government council chair was involved in ballot snatching. He was accompanied by soldiers.
- In Isoko North a man arrested for ballot snatching
-The ballot box in Upper Erejuwa ward 8 Warri was snatched by thugs loyal to one Omovie a PDP strong man
-Materials arrived Uzere ward 04 in Isoko South LGA under the vigilance of voters. On arrival at Uzere community hall, the hometown of General Ogomudia. The materials were to be distributed to polling units but it turned out that INEC officials did not come with result sheets for compilation of final results as required by law. Then Isoko South LGA chair, Askia Ogieh alongside Sam Ogrih and Prof. Abednigo Ekoko tried to snatch the ballot materials but fighting erupted and as voting could not commence at 3: 30 PM the elections were cancelled by INEC.
First unconfirmed results of Oleh Ward 1:
DPP- 61 votes
PDP-16
-Kokori community, Ethiope East- Barr. (Chief) Sunny Akpodiogaga Emeyese PDP Majority leader of Delta state house of assembly mobilizes boys to disrupt elections. He hijacked ballot boxes of Ward 10. He wanted to hijack Unit 6 but Nigerian army officers arrested and drove him away.
Results of Ogbe-Ijoh ward 1 unit 2:
DPP= 26
PDP=29
Sapele LGA Ward 8 by PHCN gate result:
DPP: 78
PDP: 8
DPP=62
PDP=17
Ward 6. Ogume Ndokwa Polling Unit 9
Accreditation started: 1: 08 PM
Election results:
DPP= 54
PDP=11
ANPP= 2
NMDP=1
PPA=1
Jega is traveling on an helicopter
Ndokwa West Results:
Election started at 12 noon
Ward Code 06: No of voters in the register= 156
Unit code: S10L12RO6P002
PDP=9
DPP=15
LP 1
Ward 7-Unit 13 D
# of voters: 347
Accredited: 73
Vote Cast: 71
Voided: 8
DPP=43
PDP=11
DPA=5
MRDD=2
Uwie LGA:
Ugborikoko
Ward 5 unit 3
DPP - 77
PDP - 10
RPN - 3
These results are raw numbers posted at the polling stations as requested by law
Intelligence Report: The electoral officer posted to Warri South LGA is from Isan in Edo state and is a maternal relation of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Also, a police officer CSP Okoro, who in 2007 was involved in electoral malpractices for the PDP today resurfaced from Abia state were he was posted after the 2007 elections. He participated in election rigging that widely pervaded the Warri South LGA today.
Accommodation was provided by security agencies and INEC officials at Peter King Guest House, the Delta state government is picking the bill. Dr. Uduaghan met with the security agencies last night at the hotel
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LEADERSHIP
Delta rerun: Uduaghan in early lead
•Utuama hails INEC for peaceful poll
ByHarris-Okon Emmanuel (Warri), Felix lgbekoyi (Asaba), Sunday Apah (Ughelli) and Sam Akadoro (Sapele)
Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in an early lead on Thursday night in the Delta Governorship rerun ballot, the post from which the Appeal Court fired him on November 9 last year, having quashed his election on April 14, 2007.
In the running are 14 candidates altogether, including Uduaghan's challenger in court, Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).
There was a huge turn out, but polling was peaceful nearly everywhere, guaranteed by the presence of 22,800 policemen in 3,625 polling units and 270 registration areas.
But two people died in Orogun in a clash between the supporters of Uduaghan and Ovie Omo-Agege, the Governorship candidate of the Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) building in Ughelli had been burnt down on Tuesday.
Security was tight on Thursday, nonetheless, as armoured personnel carriers patrolled the streets to checkmate any breakdown of law and order. The security agents conducted themselves with decorum.
However, while Uduaghan voted in Abigborode, Warri, and noted that the area was calm and the election free and fair, opposition parties complained about the late arrival of voting materials, and of irregularities bordering on the omission of names and pictures.
Former Water Resources Commissioner, George Timinimi, said the poll was flawed given the lapses in the voter register, describing the ballot as a camouflage.
Timinimi's name was in the register but his picture and age were those of a 23 year-old student.
A member of the RPN in Warri South, Yemi Omawumi, lamented the hijack of materials by thugs allegedly working for the PDP. He said a protest letter would be sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the cancellation of the results.
"Attahiru Jega (INEC Chairman) is not a magician to know what is happening. Rather than taking one step forward, we are taking many steps backward,'' Omawumi stated.
But Uduaghan's running mate, his former Deputy, Amos Utuama, commended the peaceful conduct of the polls.
He cast his vote at 12.53 p.m. at Unit 4 of Jeremi Ward in Ughelli South Council.
"The INEC has done very well in their mobilisation since yesterday (Wednesday). The materials arrived quite early yesterday (Wednesday) and information reaching me is that all parts of the local government (Ughelli South) has been covered," he added.
Utuama also commended the voters for conducting themselves in an orderly manner and for their diligence in keeping their voter cards since 2007 when the last voter registration was held.
On the other hand, Omo-Agege, the RPN candidate, expressed dissatisfaction with alledged irregularities in some parts of the state.
He said voting materials were hijacked in Oshimili North and Warri South West Councils.
In his view, "The PDP is not on ground in the state because they have very unmarketable candidate."
By 9.15 a.m., ballot materials were released to wards in Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Isoko South, Isoko North, and Patani.
However, in Igbide, Isoko South, seven electoral officers were taken to the palace of the traditional ruler for safety.
Materials were hijacked in Uzere, allegedly by PDP thugs.
Police arrested some youths in Ughelli and Ozoro for allegedly hijacking materials.
Acting Assembly Speaker, Basil Ganagana, voted at 12.29 p.m. in Bulu-Agiama, where election materials were released at 9.10 a.m.
He expressed satisfaction at the turn out and commended the INEC for the preparations.
The vote was peaceful in Oghara, Mosogar, and Jesse, all Ethiope West Council.
And it was smooth in Sapele, until DPP thugs snatched the ballot boxes of units 4, 5, and 6 of ward 4.
Orientation Commissioner Paulinus Akpeki who disclosed this said the hoodlums overwhelmed the two police women guarding the units.
Otherwise, he added, the election went smoothly.
State Deputy PDP Chairman, Ighoyota Amori, and a Senatorial aspirant, Halims Agoda, also confirmed that the poll has been the most peaceful in recent times.
But another member of the PDP, Duncan Ewhere, said the election in Ethiope West was not credible.
Some voters in Oghara, Mosogar, Jesse, and Sapele Urban, however, expressed satisfaction with the poll.
Jega, the INEC boss, arrived Ughelli at about 2:22 p.m. and ordered that materials meant for Ughelli ward 2/6 and 1/5 be taken back to Asaba.
He said he would give the reasons in a statement to be issued later.
At press time, exit polls indicated that Uduaghan was in a comfortable lead in most of the 25 councils where results were being collated.
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