INEC clears Uduaghan, 13 others for Delta gov rerun

Posted by admin Delta, National Politics, State News Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

A list containing 14 candidates has been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the Delta State rerun election, which has been fixed for January 6, 2011. The release, dated December 27, 2010 and signed by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Delta State, Dr Ogbudu Gabriel Ada, contained the names of the 14 governorship candidates and their deputies.

These include Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, whose tenure was cut short by the Court of Appeal judgment, which overturned his April 14, 2007 election victory alongside his deputy; Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege of the Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN) and Great Odveje Ogboru, who is contesting on the ticket of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

The list also has three female candidates with two vying for the governorship slot while one is seeking a deputy governorship slot.

Peter Oghenevwogaga is to fly the flag of the Accord Party with Fidelis Akihagun as his deputy, while Chief Ngozi Agbogbo will represent ADC with Michel Akiele as his deputy. All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) will have Mrs Veronica Bamutu Musu as its governorship candidate with Prince Dan Omughele as her deputy.

Citizens Peoples Party (CPP) has Chief Onkpite and Mr Rossy Egho Aroghogene as its candidates just as DPA has Dr Emmanuel Mafiana and Michael Asugo contesting on its platform.

Donald Chukwuemaka will contest on the ticket of Justice Party along with his deputy, Olorogun Felix, while Labour Party will be represented by Abel Omamamo Edijala and Mr Obed Onwochie .

Other candidates are Johnson Aje Boghudu and his deputy, Enibashi Michael (MRDD); Okeya Ojamovo Edwin and Dr Patrick Okenwagho N.M (NMDP); Taju Sumonu Isichei and Chief Erobuke Alordiah Progressive Peoples Party (PPA). PRP has Igbini Odafe Emmanuel and Eruvie Ohinoavwoyoma as its standard-bearer.

Dr Ada advised all stakeholders that the release superseded the earlier one published by the commission.

Meanwhile, some constituents, on Wednesday, took to the streets in Asaba, Delta State, protesting INEC’s refusal to display the voter register for the January 6 governorship rerun in the state.

The protesters, with placards, marched through major streets to the INEC office in Asaba, where they expressed their annoyance over the non-display of the register.

They shouted “INEC give us voter register.”

INEC had insisted that the register would be displayed three days to the election, saying there was no cause for alarm.

But last weekend, DPP candidate in the rerun election, Chief Ogboru, raised the alarm over the non-display of the register as stipulated by law.

Chief Ogboru, who visited the state INEC office on a fact-finding mission, alleged that the commission was trying to disfranchise voters.

According to him, in the Anambra State rerun election, the register was displayed on time and wondered why Delta State case could be different.

The candidate had a brief meeting with the commissions administration secretary after which he told reporters that one of his prayers at the election tribunal and appeal count was that INEC failed to display the voters register as at when due in 2007 election.

Ogboru lamented that in the 2007 election, 12 of the 25 local government areas had voter register while nothing was known about 13 others.

He sought to know from the commission whether the anomalies have been corrected in the rerun election.

He believed that INEC would conduct a satisfactory election, but warned that in conducting its business, integrity should not be thrown into the wind.wp_posts