PDP sweeps Delta council polls, APC kicks

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won 23 out of the 25 local government areas of Delta in Saturday’s council elections across the state.

Chairman of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Mr. Mike Ogbodu, announced the results on Sunday in Asaba.

He said elections have been postponed in Ethiope East and Ughelli North areas due to reports of violence which has resulted in the burning of the DSIEC office in Ughelli.

He said elections in the two council areas would be held on Jan. 9, 2018.

“Following the completion of collation and counting of results from the chairmanship and councillorship elections held last Saturday across the state, I wish to announce that the PDP won the chairmanship elections in 23 local government areas.

Ogbodu said the PDP also won 424 councillorship seats across the state, adding that 59 councillorship candidates of the PDP were returned unopposed.

He, however, disclosed that councillorship elections could also not hold in Ward 2 and Ward 4 in Oshimili North local government area.

He said elections could not hold in those wards as a result of a court order restraining the conduct of elections there.

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won one councillorship seat in Ward 2, Aniocha North local government area.

However, the APC in the state has kicked against the exercise, describing subsequent results as a big sham.

State Chairman of the APC, Mr. Jones Erue, expressed the party’s position in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Asaba.

He also alleged that the elections were conducted without substantial compliance with relevant laws.

“Sensitive election materials were not delivered as expected to most of the polling units where the actual elections were due to take place.

“Where materials were even delivered, they did not arrive on time as most were hijacked and re-directed along the way.

“Many Returning Officers were not at the Polling Units to conduct the elections nor to announce the outcome.

“For example, a DSIEC Returning Officer at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area was arrested in Ozoro, facilitating illegal thumbprinting of votes,” Erue said.

He said that the burning of DSIEC Office in Ughelli was a clear testimony to his claims.

He also said the APC in Delta was not shocked by the outcome of the election.

Erue said the party had issued a note of caution previously, warning about the potential for active connivance between DSIEC and PDP officials or agents. (NAN)