By Gabriel Enogholase, Festus Ahon, Egufe Yufughorhi, Godwin Oghire, Brisibe Perez and Akpokona Omafuaire
Voters’ apathy, violence and late arrival of electoral materials marred the Delta State Local government elections in Warri and environs held yesterday.
Violence rocked Koko, the headquarters of Warri North Local Government, as new fewer than 35 vehicles were said to have been destroyed by protesting youths over the delay of the elections and alleged hijack of materials by one of the parties.
It took soldiers stationed in the area to bring normalcy to the town just as the youths were said to have harassed people, robbed them of money and handsets. A journalist was said to have been injured during the process. In Uvwie, hoodlums, reportedly acting in support a party allegedly stormed and set on fire the campaign head office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flagbearer, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.
The situation was however put under control by security operatives and men of the Fire Service.
At Ofagbe Ward 4 in Isoko South Local Government Area, where the APC Councilorship flag bearer hails from, violence was said to have erupted when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly descended on the ballot papers and tore them to shreds when the APC appeared to be leading. At Oleh in Isoko South area, youths barricaded the Divisional Police Station as early as 10am protesting non arrival of materials.
A Lagos based journalist, Mr. Aruga Omokaro, was beaten by thugs and had his money and other valuables seized just as his attempt to alert the DPO failed as he would not pick his calls.
At Otu-Jeremi, headquarters of Ughelli South Council, another journalist, Ode Akpotiligbe, was allegedly assaulted at the local office of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) by thugs reportedly acting on the orders of one of the chairmanship candidates in the elections.
Chief Electoral Officer in Ughelli South, Isaac Adjekuko, said youths lay siege at the Jeremi Divisional Police Office, insisting on inspecting the electoral materials at the station, a situation that led to violence resulting in the smashing of his car and others’.
In Ughelli North Local Government Area, thugs, suspected to be loyal to one of the political parties, hijacked and diverted voting materials meant for Agbarha-Otor community.
Ogegere Enis, a resident of the community, stated that the thugs who came in over 12 cars, blocked the vehicles carrying the voting materials to the community town hall.
As at the time of this report, youths of the community are said to be combing the surrounding areas in search of the materials and personnel but were constrained by the restriction of human and vehicular movement in the state.
At the ward of the State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kenneth Okpara, and a prominent PDP chieftain, Chief Benard Edewor, there was alleged confrontation among PDP, LP and APC faithful, leading to shooting of tear-gas by the police.
Meanwhile, delayed arrival of voting materials was recorded in parts of Sapele, Ethiope East and Ethiope West.
In all the polling units visited by Vanguard reporters, accreditation of voters started as late as 1pm just as there were no materials in others. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was said not to have been accredited or cast his vote as late 2pm at Abigborodo, his home town.
At Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area, elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief E.K Clark, as at about 12noon, had not been accredited to cast his vote in the election where his son, Ebikeme, was the PDP chairmanship candidate.
The late arrival of electoral materials and accreditation of voters was same in other towns visited in Udu, Uvwie, Ughelli South and Warri South Local Government Areas.
Meanwhile, reports said the elections were held across the 25 local government councils of the state amidst tight security. Our correspondent who monitored the election, and those traveling on the Benin/Asaba express way and the East/West road were locked up in a serious traffic jam for hours occasioned by the restriction of movement.
Armed soldiers and police officers barricaded the roads to enforce the no movement order to allow for a peaceful conduct of the election. At Oshimili South, Oshimil North, Aniocha South, Aniocha North, Ika North-East and South, Ukwani, Ndokwa East and West voting went on peacefully.
Our correspondent, who also went round Ughelli North and South, Isoko North and South, Ethiope East, Uvwie and Bomadi, said voting was orderly as people were seen turning in to cast their votes. Although final results had not been announced at press time, early results showed that the PDP was taking the lead in both chairmanship and councillorship elections.
Speaking to newsmen at Orogun, one of the governorship, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, after casting his vote described the election as credible and peaceful. Another governorship aspirant, Sir Tony Obuh, said the election was peaceful and credible, adding that; “it shows that people are ready to embrace democracy and is a prelude to the expected transition in 2015”.
The House of Assembly member representing Ughelli South in the state House of Assembly, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, commended the people for the large turnout, saying; “Ughelli South is the home of PDP so we will win landslide here and even in other local government areas”.
Governor Uduaghan also described the council polls as impressive and commendable.
Uduaghan, while speaking to newsmen after casting his vote at exactly 3:40pm at his ward in Umuegbe Primary School, Abigborodo in Warri North Local Government Area, attributed the delay in the arrival of voting materials to security challenges.
He said, “I have been monitoring the election across the state. In some areas, we experienced some forms of security challenges just like we have here in parts of Warri North owing to the terrain of the area, but so far, I am impressed with the conduct of the elections.”
The state Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, also commended the people of Otu-Jeremi in Ughelli South Local Government Area, for their peaceful conduct during the polls.
Utuama, accompanied by his wife, Nelly, cast his vote in Jeremi Ward 3, Unit 4, Otu-Jeremi.
Speaking to newsmen, the state deputy governor expressed satisfaction over the large turnout of the electorate in the area.
“The turnout is very impressive, I have never seen such turnout as large as this, maybe it is due to the local nature of the election, so everybody is interested on who becomes the chairman and counsellor of his or her local government and ward”, he stated.,
“I thank my people for being politically aware of their civic responsibility and for doing that in a peacefull way. I thank and plead with them to continue to support PDP and the government of Delta State and I want to assured them that by the grace of God will get to our destination”.
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