Dominic Adewole 
…APC senator cries foul over non-release of electoral materials for Isoko
The Councilorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ward 10(B)-Unit 7, Comrade Presley Ojuma was reportedly beaten after alleging over-voting in favour of the People’s Democratic Party)PDP) at his polling unit at Obiaruku in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state.
This came as Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District, strongly condemned the Delta State Independence Electoral Commission (DSIEC) for failing to release sensitive electoral materials, including result sheets and ballot papers, for the Local Government Council elections.
Speaking in Emede, Isoko South, Delta State, Senator Joel-Onowakpo accused DSIEC of colluding with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to deny citizens their fundamental right to vote, effectively rendering the election invalid.
Voters, electoral officers and bystanders at Obiaruku scampered for safety for fear of the unknown.
The alarm he raised attracted supporters and sympathizers of the ruling PDP, who rose to the scene and descended on him.
It took the frantic effort of security operatives in four police vans to rescue him and douse the tension. The victim only made a very terse comment,
“You have seen what happened by yourself, after all, I have the right as a contestant to say the time is up” after he survived being lynched.
The top police officer who led the team that rescued him declined to comment.
At Owa-Alero in Ika North-East where the immediate past Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, his wife and daughter, Marylyn Daramola-Okowa, representing Ika North-East constituency in the House of Assembly voted, and Ekuku-Agbor and Ute-Uterum, Ika South, PDP was coasting to victory.
In other areas, Aniocha South and North, Oshimili North and South and Ndokwa, PDP had taken an early lead.
The Senator alleged that the PDP, aware of the All Progressives Congress (APC) readiness to take over local government affairs, conspired with DSIEC to manipulate the electoral process.
Senator Joel-Onowakpo lamented that the PDP-led government has once again undermined Delta State’s democratic heritage.
“Democracy worldwide is about the will of the people, but DSIEC and the PDP have conspired to deny citizens their right to elect local government leaders. This is undemocratic and unacceptable.”
He emphasized that the non-release of sensitive materials constitutes electoral fraud and compromises the election’s integrity.
The Senator advocated for local government autonomy and commended the Federal Government and Supreme Court for taking steps towards this goal.
He stressed the need for a constitutional amendment to transfer the power to constitute state electoral commissions from state governors to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Until INEC takes over local government elections, we cannot guarantee the true autonomy of the third tier of government,” Senator Joel-Onowakpo concluded.
