The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Delta state, has rejected the March 7, 2020 Erohwa/Umeh Ward 08 Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), ward congress, Isoko South local government area of the state following what it called bloody violence and attacks by suspected hired political thugs which left several party members with various degrees of injuries.
Trouble was said to have started last Saturday when party members had lined up to participate in the ward congress when one Odiri Alade, Special Assistance to governor Ifeanyi Okowa on youth and community development allegedly disrupted the process with some hired political thugs.
Speaking with our correspondent, Tuesday, on the violence that greeted the Erohwa/Umeh Ward 08, the Assistant Electoral Officer of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Isoko South, who supervise the whole exercise, James Akpiri, stated that, the commission has rejected results that emanated from the congress in that ward following the bloody violence.
“There were serious issue there and the results were not accepted by INEC following the violence on that day. I personally reported to my boss in INEC office in Asaba and when he was preparing his report, he made sure it was reflected also in his report as well. So, that is the current position.”
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the Managing Director of Delta State Oil- Producing Areas Development Commission ( DESOPADEC), Askia Ogieh, has continued to mount pressure on the Assistant Electoral Officer of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Isoko South to write out results in favour of his camp despite the violence.
Our correspondent gathered that the governor’s aide who was allegedly working on the instructions of the Managing Director of Delta State Oil- Producing Areas Development Commission ( DESOPADEC), Askia Ogieh, had gone to the venue of the congress to impose one Peter Ayetuovo as the chairman of the party in the ward but was vehemently rejected by the people.
The rejection of the imposition of Ayetuovo, witnessed a bloody attack on one Saturday Eneriakpoze, a former councilor and one Oyibo Emmanuel and others by hired thugs launching attack and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Delta State Oil- Producing Areas Development Commission ( DESOPADEC), Askia Ogieh, has denied any involvement in the last Saturday bloody attacks during the Erohwa/Umeh Ward 08.
