AfriqueCAN:
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has won the July 13 council polls in the 24 local government areas in Delta State.
The results of the election were announced on Sunday in Asaba at the headquarters of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC.
Addressing newsmen after the declaration of the results by the LGA Returning Officers, DSIEC Chairman, Dr Jerry Agbaike, said the Allied People’s Movement, APM, won in one electoral ward in Oshimili South local government area.
But Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central senatorial district, described the election as a mere coronation of all PDP-nominated candidates.
He faulted the state electoral umpire, saying they most probably acted on the instructions of the state Governor, who just allotted figures to candidates who took part in the shambolic process.
He described the elections as a complete sham and a mockery of democratic ideals and standards.
Dafinone spoke on the growing concern across the country on how the sitting state Governor uses DSIEC to undermine the growth and development of the electoral system at the local government level.
The Delta Central lawmaker while reacting to the outcome of the council polls held in Delta state said it is very unfortunate that people at the grassroots level are prevented from participating in our democratic process by state governors to freely elect their councillors and council chairman.
Dafinone while applauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the financial autonomy of the local governments across the country with the recent Supreme Court landmark judgement, noted that Nigerians of goodwill must collectively work to amend the relevant sections of the constitution to rescue the local government system from the iron-fist of the state Governors.
He added that the main opposition in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, sensed that the electoral umpire, DSIEC, was not going to conduct a credible election as predicted, hence most of the party candidates withdrew from the polls.
“It’s very unfortunate and sad how low our people can go to acquire power. It’s even more troubling that after 25 years in our democratic experiment, we can’t conduct what looks like an election at the local government level.
“What took place in Delta state on Saturday to all intent and purpose can’t be classified as an election. It’s a complete sham and an affront to all known democratic ideals.
“As predicted by political watchers that the Delta State PDP-led government is incapable of conducting free, fair and credible elections, DISEC proved all of us right.
“There were reports across the state that electoral materials, particularly results sheets were not supplied to many polling units, and in some cases, wards that were considered as strongholds of the opposition, voting materials were not supplied at all.
“It’s disheartening that our governors who are products of free and fair elections can’t replicate the same in the local government areas of their state. If INEC were to conduct elections the way the governors purportedly teleguide SIEC to conduct local government polls, many of them would not be governors today.
“I think at this point in our national history and democratic journey, we have to put partisan politics aside and work collectively to amend the relevant sections of our constitution to rescue the local government system from the grips of our governors.
“I must commend the laudable effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the lead in this respect by ensuring financial autonomy for the local governments across the country.
“We must do likewise to enthrone democratic principles at the local government level by ensuring that a credible agency, possibly INEC, is charged with the conduct of local government elections across the country to guarantee our people’s participation in democratic governance,” Dafinone said.
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