By: Tonebsky Nesta, Omonigho Matthew & Omoghene Faith
A last minute release of results from Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West local government areas was the magic wand Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan needed to claim overwhelming victory over Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party.
Fresh Angle checks reveal that there was palpable fears and anxiety among some Deltans, particularly PDP Chieftains over the close call results from Delta North and Central were recording with Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru having slight edge in those districts before last minute release of results in the three Warris which turned the table in favour of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Votes from Ijaw dominated local government areas as released by the Delta State Electoral Commissioner also added teeth to Dr. Uduaghan’s victory. Fresh Angle gathered that INEC almost nullified results from the three Warri local government areas due to delay in its release but later shelved the idea for reasons not known as at Press time.
Expectedly though, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru has vowed to return to court to challenge the outcome of the polls.
Feelers reaching Fresh Angle as at the time of filing this report reveals that the DPP Candidate has collated “substantial” evidences to upturn the result in his favour at the court. While there was celebration in areas where Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has stronghold regarding the outcome of the result, a feeling of disbelief and outright rejection greeted a cross section of Deltans living in parts of Delta North Senatorial district and majority of those in Delta Central.
One strong signal which the votes as released by INEC showed was the ethnic polarization exhibited despite party affiliations. Some PDP Chieftains in Delta Central like Chief Festus Okubor and former Uvwie Council boss, Mrs. Evelyn Ojakovo surprisingly corroborated Chief Great Ogboru’s claim when they alleged that most of their people were disenfranchised by INEC. This statement Fresh Angle gathered is not unconnected with desperate moves to save face over their inability to deliver their area for the PDP. Leaders of the PDP in parts of Delta North where Chief Ogboru won are also making desperate moves to save the party from embarrassment in the April polls as well as regain the confidence and trust of re-elected Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The recently conducted rerun gubernatorial election did not come without its own controversies and violence.
Reports monitored by Fresh Angle from Correspondents and contacts across the State on election day indicated large support enjoyed by Democratic Peoples Party candidate, DPP, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru in Delta North, an area believed to be in favour of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan due to the PDP zoning arrangement which will see power shifting to that district at the expiration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s second tenure. Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru reportedly defeated Dr. Uduaghan in Asaba, the State capital, Issele-Ukwu in Aniocha North, Kwale and Agbor, believed to be the strongest hold of PDP due to the influence of former Secretary to Delta State government, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
Our Delta Central Correspondent reports that there was no election in most parts of Ughelli South local government, especially the Ughievwen axis due to the hijack of voting materials by a former council boss and Chieftain of PDP in the area (name withheld).
Election however took place at Oginibo and Otu-Jeremi, the country home of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Deputy, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama. Fresh Angle gathered that the PDP Chieftain that allegedly hijacked electoral materials meant for Ughievwen axis and other parts of Ughelli South local government later returned the materials when he got wind that some youths in the affected areas who had been loyal to him in the past became aggrieved due to their new found love for the DPP candidate and were heading for the INEC office in the area to vent their frustrations. It was later gathered that the youths stopped election from taking place following speculations that the electoral materials have been tampered with.
Other areas affected by this development include Ekakpamre, Ughevwughe, Otor-Edu, Edjophe and Iwrekan communities.
Reports also say that at Otu-Jeremi, there was relative peace and election took place in 5 poling centres. The DPP allegedly won with wide margin in 4 of these centres, while the PDP allegedly won the polling unit close to the private residence of Dr. Uduaghan’s Deputy, Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama. Unconfirmed reports however claimed that the various result sheets as well as half of the ballot papers used at the 5 units were fake. A PDP Councilor in the area (name withheld) allegedly masterminded the purported thumb printing of ballot papers in his house.
At Imode and Eyara also in Ughelli South, election reportedly took place under a peaceful atmosphere even though cases of alleged fake result sheets were reported.
The INEC Officer and a Police Officer were allegedly held hostage to sign undertaken to authenticate voters’ fears.
The Democratic Party candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru reportedly swept Oginibo and Okwagbe with the alertness of one Andrew Desi and another party stalwart in the area identified simply as Prince Oviri. The Political muscle of former Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Akpor Pius Ewherido who is eyeing Delta Central Senatorial seat on the platform of DPP in the coming April general elections reportedly played a major role in helping Chief Ogboru sweep Ewu, while election materials were allegedly hijacked by the PDP at Owawha.
Information reaching Fresh Angle also revealed that in Ughelli North local government area, Chief Great Ogboru allegedly held sway following last minute support of the RPN gubernatorial candidate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege who we gathered told his supporters to back Ogboru. Our Correspondent reports that there were isolated cases of stealing of ballot boxes as well as shooting of electoral thugs by security details assigned to monitor the poll in the area. At Sapele local government area, report has it that indicated victory for Chief Ogboru did not go without serious opposition from youths loyal to the PDP. Unconfirmed report has it that the home of a PDP Chieftain was set ablaze.
In Warri, Our Senior Correspondent reports that at about 10:10am some youths from the Okumagba Avenue area laid siege on an Highlander jeep with registration number: WSL 05 WWR and escorted it into Ighogbadu Primary School.
The jeep was allegedly trying to divert ballot boxes designated for that area.
Despite the fact that eligible voters were not properly attended to due to their inability to find their names in the voters’ register in units where they registered, voting took place at units 9,7 and 8 in Ighogbadu Primary School. While units 1,2 and 3 of Olodi Primary School also witnessed massive turn out.
At Okumagba ward 2, unit 12 and 14, even though voting took place, the Peoples Democratic Party agents there were almost beaten up as they were driven from the polling units by supporters of Democratic Peoples Party immediately they got wind that ballot boxes were stolen at Erejuwa playground, Warri Central Garage and Arubayi Street, where God’s Grace Ministry is situated.
Fresh Angle can also report that eligible voters who could not find their names in the voters’ register voted with their Identity card or driver’s license.
Mr. Ezekiel Ogboru, a Democratic Peoples Party agent who spoke exclusively to Fresh Angle prior to the election at Unit 7 of Ighogbadu Primary School said they would make alternative for those who could not find their names in the voters’ register.
Also at Unit 1 of Olodi Primary School one, Evang. Joseph Awisa accused INEC of not doing a thorough job. According to him, INEC have succeeded in disenfranchising many eligible voters by the accreditation process which he described as fraud. Why Mr. Anthony Azeta of Okumagba ward 2, Unit 12 and 14, accused the youths in the area of being one sided. Mr. Anthony, a PDP agent who was badly rough handled also confirmed that eligible voters who were unable to go through the accreditation process due to INEC failure eventually voted with their National Identity card and driver’s licenses.
Another PDP agent at Unit 2 of Olodi Primary School declined comments on the conduct of the accreditation and election exercise when Fresh Angle sought his view.
No comments:
Post a Comment