Poll: Ndokwa East APC Chairmanship candidate cautions DSIEC against compromise
Chief Victor Egwuatu, All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship Candidate for Ndokwa East Local Government Council of Delta has advised the State Independent Electoral Commission against compromising the ongoing Council election
He said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.
Egwuatu said this was necessary for the advancement of democracy at the council level.
He said the people of the area should be allowed to freely elect their leaders, adding that if a candidate claimed to be popular, he should allow the process to run freely without interference.
Egwuatu said it was regrettable that though accreditation of voters was supposed to commence as early as 8.00 a.m, DSIEC officials were no where to be seen in most areas visited.
He urged the commission to leave up to its promise of ensuring a level playing ground for all party candidates.
The APC chairmanship candidate alleged that the DSIEC may had compromised the electoral process hence the audacity of members of the ruling party in the state, even during the campaigns.
“From Unit 13, Afor Obikwere Ward, and in most wards visited in Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government headquarters, Ibrede and Ashaka, we did not see DSIEC officials and election materials.
“In a few places where we noticed officials of the commission, ballot boxes and other election materials were being snatched and taking into unknown destinations.
“We were assured a free, fair and credible election ahead of the election, but the contrary is what we are seeing today, ” he said.
Egwuatu said that he foresaw a situation whereby there would be a lot of litigations after the election.
He, therefore, called on the electoral body to do the needful to ensure a smooth election inline with the tenets of democracy where no eligible voter would be disenfranchised.
NAN recalled that the Delta APC had earlier approached the State High Court sitting in Udu, praying for an order to stop the DSIEC from conducting the local government poll.
The party, through its lawyer, J.A. Otorudo Esq, on July 4, filed an originating summons with Suit No. OUHC/127/2024 at the Otor-Udu High Court, alleging wrongful and illegal guidelines.
Otorudo urged the court to declare null and void any and every step so far taken by the commission in accordance with the guidelines which the body published on May 3, 2024 for the conduct of the July 13, 2024 local government election.(https://newsatlarge.ng)