…as Uduaghan disagrees
Femi Kehinde | African Examiner | Posted: Jan. 10, 2011
the tenure of Delta State governor-elect, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, ends on
May 28, this year.
By the INEC position, Uduaghan, who emerged winner of Thursday's re-run
governorship election, has less than five months to spend in office and
would have, by that, completed a term of four years.
A statement by INEC said the agency had put the rerun election behind it
and was preparing for a governorship election in Delta, holding in April.
Kayode Idowu of INEC explained thus: "Under the law, there is going to be
election in Delta State because it is contained in the electoral act that the
time a governor spent in office before the date his election was annulled
shall be taken into account.
"That provision is in the electoral act and the electoral act is a subsisting
law."
But Uduaghan rejected INEC's position saying only the court could
determine his tenure.
WEEKLY TRUSTUduaghan may face another election in April...wins first round
Saturday, 08 January 2011 13:11Isa Umar Gusau, Port Harcourt, Monday Osayande & Vincent Egunyanga, Asaba, Mohammed S. Shehu & Solomon Chung, AbujaFormer Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was returned in a re-run election conducted by INEC in thestate yesterday. Uduaghan beat his rival, Great Ogboru of Democratic Peoples Party with 275253 votes against 138,244 votes cast by 450376 electorates.
However, Uduaghan may have only passed his first hurdle because going by the amended constitution, Uduaghan may have to take part in the April elections if he is retained as the party's flag-bearer.
The amendment stipulates that in the event of a re-run, periods enjoyed by the incumbent before the re-run will be taken into account, which is why elections are to be held in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Cross Rivers amongst others were PDP governors sacked by courts were re-elected after re-runs even as their re-elections have not lasted up to four years.
The governors have since filed cases in courts seeking extension of time for them to stay four years from dates of their swearing-in after re-run victories. The cases are yet to be determined.
Added to the act's provision was the verdict of the Supreme Court in October, 2007 which ruled that Rotimi Amaechi be sworn-in as valid governor of Rivers State in place of sitting Celestine Omehia on the argument that there was no need for fresh elections as popularly expected on the basis that it was the mandate was given PDP by voters at the 2007 elections as since Amaechi's substitution was without cogent and verifiable reason required by the electoral act, 2006, he should be sworn-in.
This explains why Amaechi is taking part in tomorrow's PDP primaries for April elections instead of October which should have been when his tenure ends.
President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Emmanuel Uduaghan on his victory in the election in a congratulatory message that said Uduaghan's victory is an affirmation of the confidence and the trust the people of Delta State have in his able leadership. But the DPP has described the return of by INEC as fraudulent.
The DPP in a statement yesterday in Abuja accused the electoral umpire, the security agencies and the PDPof complicity in what it called fraudulent shortchange in the Delta. The statement read in part: "The actions of the PDP has once again shown that in spite of its pretention to allow a free, fair and credible elections in 2011,it is obsessed with its desire to retain power at all cost, including the use of brigandage and the manipulation of all official apparatus.''
While bemoaning the role of INEC in yesterday contest, the party said the ability of the electoral umpire to perform up to expectations is still in doubt despite the personality of the Commission's head, Professor, Attahiru Jega.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mobolaji ALUKO <alukome@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Subject: STAR INFO: Delta Gubernatorial Re-run: Uduaghan declared winner over Ogboru
To: NaijaPolitics e-Group <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>, USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>, ekiti ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>, Naija Elections <naijaelections@yahoogroups.com>, naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>, "nigerianid@yahoogroups.com" <nigerianID@yahoogroups.com>
QUOTEThe Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Ada, announced Uduaghan as winner of the election at about 6:30pm on Friday at the INEC office in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Uduaghan polled 275,253 to defeat his nearest rival and candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party, Dr. Great Ogboru, who garnered 138,244 to emerge a distant second. The RPN candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege recorded a paltry 7,481.
The total votes cast in the election were 450,376. While 433,312 were valid, 17,064 votes were rejected by INEC for alleged irregularities.
UNQUOTE
Dear All:I have been waiting for INEC to publish the Delta guber-rerun results on its website - but two days are too long, and nothing has been published yet.So, from various sources - including quotes of "INEC results" - I publish a set below.I am copying this to INEC - in case it is prepared to place the results on its website and thereby correct mine.And there you have it.Bolaji AlukoPS: If you ask me, since a re-match will have to be in April - if recent judgments are to be followed - then Ogboru should just wait this one out and not go to court to contest the results, but rather ensure that the new voters' register is completely kosher. But that is me writing....Ogboru no know me! :-)![]()
The Mostly-Official INEC Results of the Delta Guber-Rerun
No.
LGA
Uduaghan
PDP
Ogboru
DPP
Winner
1.
Oshimili South
2460
2811
Ogboru
2.
Oshimili North
4412
1310
Uduaghan
3.
Ika South
5476
2767
Uduaghan
4.
Ukwuani
2277
7168
Ogboru
5.
Patani
7533
1975
Uduaghan
6.
Aniocha North
4809
1105
Uduagha
7.
Ika North East
14,360
2830
Uduaghan
8.
Okpe
4059
5266
Ogboru
9.
Ndokwa East
6856
1736
Uduaghan
10.
Uvwie
2400
10,719
Ogboru
11.
Ethiope East
1282
18,916
Ogboru
12.
Ethiope West
17,335
2879
Uduaghan
13.
Aniocha South
5692
1312
Uduaghan
14.
Sapele
4369
4657
Ogboru
15.
Ndokwa West
3632
6112
Ogboru
16.
Warri North
37,139
470
Uduaghan
17.
Isoko South
9567
5235
Uduaghan
18.
Isoko North
5,808
7,785
Ogboru
19.
Bomadi
21632
4354
Uduaghan
20.
Warri South
48,659
8195
Uduaghan
21.
Warri South West
50,933
2,836
Uduaghan
22.
Ughelli South
2,961
8,103
Ogboru
23.
Udu
1,364
18,457
Ogboru
24.
Burutu
10,782
5,369
Uduaghan
25.
Ughelli North
1,198
5850
Ogboru
TOTAL
276,995
138,217
Uduaghan
The figures in red are probably accurate; those in green I have not been able to confirm independently.
THE NATION
Delta rerun: Uduaghan declared winner
Shola O'neil, Warri and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba
08/01/2011 01:07:00
BARELY two months after he was sacked from office by a Court of Appeal in Benin City, the Edo State capital, former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan Friday bounced back with a resounding victory at the state governorship election re-run held on Thursday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Ada, announced Uduaghan as winner of the election at about 6:30pm on Friday at the INEC office in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Uduaghan polled 275,253 to defeat his nearest rival and candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party, Dr. Great Ogboru, who garnered 138,244 to emerge a distant second. The RPN candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege recorded a paltry 7,481.
The total votes cast in the election were 450,376. While 433,312 were valid, 17,064 votes were rejected by INEC for alleged irregularities.
Earlier results from the 25 local government areas of the state revealed that the PDP candidate, who was removed from office in November 2010, following the Appeal Court ruling, won outright majority in 14 ,while Ogboru won in 11. Omo-Agege and other candidates failed to win any council.
Similarly, Dr. Ada who reeled out the figures of the poll amidst tight security, said Uduaghan satisfied the relevant electoral laws, particularly as it affected performance in at least 67% of the entire local government areas.
Specifically, he said the PDP candidate achieved the feat in 20 of the 25 LGAs.
Uduaghan, however, failed to garner the needed votes in Ethiope East (home of Ogboru), Udu, Ukwani (home of Theo Tilije, DPP Deputy Governorship candidate), Uvwie and Ughelli North (home of Ovie Omo-Agege.
Ogboru achieved the same feat in 13 councils of Ethiope East, Ika South, Isoko North and South, Ndokwa, Okpe, Oshimili South, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli North and South and Ukwani.
Our investigation revealed that factors like tribe and geographic origin of the candidates played a major role in the contest, with Ogboru posting a very strong showing in his home Delta Central Senatorial District, where the Urhobos are located.
Similarly, Dr. Uduaghan had a strong performance at the Delta South Senatorial Districts, populated by the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko people. In fact, the Itsekiri-born Uduaghan won heavily at the Ijaw and Itsekiri LGAs.
Delta North, without any strong governorship contender, lived up to billing by playing the role of kingmaker. Uduaghan swept six of the nine local government areas in the district, corroborating The Nation's earlier speculation that the district would determine who won the election.
Meanwhile, the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, has commended INEC for the conduct of the election.
Its National Coordinator, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, who led over 250 observers on the conduct of the election, said it was mostly free and fair.
He said: "Reports reaching us from out 25 LGA coordinators indicate that the governorship re-run election in Delta State was generally peaceful except for some incidents of ballot snatching and late voting in parts of Udu, Sapele, Uvwie and Warri South LGA.
"Voters were generally happy that for the first time in 11 years, they voted peacefully and that their votes would count. Kudos to Prof. Attahiru Jega-led INEC," he added.
Ikimi said its finding also revealed that voters turned out in large numbers, although many of them could not vote because they could not find their names on the voters list, adding: "We hope that INEC would correct the above lapses before the next general election."
Nevertheless, our correspondent learnt that the DPP candidate, Great Ogboru, could be heading for the tribunal. His agents refused to sign the collated result yesterday after Uduaghan was declared winner.
It was gathered that the party had earlier complained about huge votes garnered by the PDP in some areas, including Warri South West and Bomadi LGAs.
The PDP agent at the INEC's office, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, in the same vein observed that the DPP scored outrageously high votes in Ogboru's Ethiope East base.
Our correspondent recalled that a similar petition against the conduct of the 2007 governorship election in the state by Ogboru led to the annulment of the result in November 2010.
In his reaction yesterday, Dr. Udaughan, who spoke through Deputy-Director-General Uduaghan Campaign Organisation, expressed appreciation to Deltans for the support and belief in his administration, adding that the electoral victory was won after a very hard battle.
He said he wished to extend a hand of fellowship to his political opponents, urging them to set aside partisan politics and contribute to the development of the state .
His words: "The victory has come after a very hard battle. I am appreciative of the support of Deltans and I wish to extend a hand of fellowship to all and want everyone to consider Delta State above all else in their utterances and actions. I want all to join hands in building a strong virile state".
Also, the Manager Communication, Government House, Mr. PauL Odili, said Dr. Uduaghan wass humbled by the victory ,adding that the support of Deltans will energise him in the pursuit of his three-point agenda of peace and security , human capital and infrastructure development.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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