Delta Council Polls: APC Boycotts Rescheduled Election In Ethiope East

Reports reaching us show that the All Progressive Congress (APC) will not participate in the local government elections billed to hold today in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Mr. Mike Ogbodu had on Sunday while announcing results for the January 6, 2018 council elections in the state, ordered a bye-election in Ethiope East and Ughelli North local government areas, following alleged widespread of violence.

According to a chieftain of APC in the area, Chief Julius Ogboru, “this decision by his party to not take part in today’s election was taken because the ruling party planned to read results in Asaba why they voted here in the local government. They want to rig the election just like they did in other places.
“PDP has boasted that they will win the 25 local government area Chairmanship and Councillorship elections. We pulled out, so now, they can do what they like.”
The Delta State APC Chairman had on Monday during a press conference announced that they would boycott the elections in the said two local government areas.
The Ethiope East Local Government Area All Progressives Grand Alliance  (APGA) Chairmanship candidate, Comr. Harridson Adja at the time of filing this report, debunked reports making the rounds that APGA had also decided not to participate in the elections.
He however said that there was no election materials in the local government at the moment, adding that at the time Olorogun Ovie Ughwanogho, the state party leader called the Electoral Officer, he was told that the materials will go straight to the polling units and not to the council headquarters as required by law.
He added: “If they say that they are popular candidates, why won’t PDP in the area opt for a free and fair election?”
During a phone conversation with the DSIEC Publicity Secretary, Arubi Orugboh, he said that the voting materials left Asaba for the local government early and said that rather than go first to the council headquarters, they would be taken directly to the wards.
This decision he said was based on security reports and to avoid any planned violence by persons bent on preventing the election from holding.

By Dafe Rukevwe