Delta: Protests at Ekpan, Sapele as Uduaghan leads

Posted by admin Delta, Elections 2011, NNP Elections 2011 Updates, State News Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

ASABA- PROTESTS erupted at Ekpan, Uvwie local government and Sapele in Sapele local government area of Delta State, Wednesday morning, as news filtered in that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is leading in 13 local government areas in Tuesday’s governorship poll, while Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, is ahead in nine local government areas.

Governor Uduaghan was said to be ahead in Ethiope West, Sapele, Patani, Warri North, Warri South-West, Ika North, Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North local governments among others, while Ogboru is on top at Ethiope East, Okpe, Udu, Uvwie, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Ukwuani, Oshimili South and others. However, final results have not been announced by INEC.

Youths in volatile Ekpan community, believed to mainly DPP faithful stormed the streets yesterday, protesting reports and text messages that the PDP is ahead in the governorship election in 13 local governments, prompting the deployment of mobile policemen and soldiers.

As at 12.00 pm, the combined team of policemen and soldiers had put the situation under control with the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ekpan, Mr. Muazu Mohammed, sternly warning the leaders of the protesting groups that they would be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the area.

Available results from Ughelli North showed the PDP scored 9,231, DPP – 48,898 and ACN-5,087 in the governorship poll and in Ethiope East, PDP polled 5,317, DPP- 54,611, while in Udu, PDP polled 6,717 and DPP-32,824.

In Ughelli South, PDP got 13,323, DPP- 41,996 and ACN-45 in the governorship and for the House of Assembly in Uvwie, Efe Ofobruku of the DPP polled 25,405 to beat Hon Solomon Igharakpata of the PDP, who polled 23,204 votes.

Delta State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Paulinus Akpeki and other PDP leaders, including Chief Monday Igbuya, a member of the Delta State House of Assembly were said to have delivered Sapele to the PDP, but, women in ward 8, Sapele protested half nude against the victory of Igbuya in the ward.

The women who alleged massive rigging by the PDP accused PDP leaders of disenfranchising them from voting for candidates of their choice in the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

They took off in their march round Sapele metropolis from the INEC office with their half- naked bodies, calling on protested to INEC not to announce the election result, which they alleged has been skewed in favour of the House of Assembly candidate, Chief Igbuya of the PDP .

The women who spoke to newsmen through their leader, Mrs. Edegware Felicia, said the people in ward 8, as other areas such as Ojolu, where ballot boxes were snatched among others, were denied of their voting right.

The placard -carrying women alleged the PDP bought over eligible voters in many wards and units at Sapele, saying they were intimidated and harassed with guns, machete, bottles by thugs from voting, thereby giving room to PDP to manipulate the result.

The protesting women said their choice candidate; Dr. Cyril Ogodo, adding that INEC officials refused to announce the result as stipulated in the Electoral Act in Sapele, but instead, decided to go to Asaba to announce result for no just reason.

-Vanguardwp_posts