Isoko allege marginalisation in Ndokwa East
Members of the Isoko community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accused the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, of marginalising them in Ndokwa East Local Council area of the state.
The group alleged that the delay in conducting elections into five wards in the area has denied the community of representation at the grassroots level.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, leader of the community, Peter Egidi, said election into Ndokwa East’s local council, conducted in October 2014 by the state Independent Electoral Commission (DESIEC) was canceled.
It stressed that beyond the councillorship position, no Isoko person in Ndokwa East, has been appointed into any political position.Egidi added that in November 2014, when elections were again conducted, the electoral body refused to convey electoral materials to the wards due to flood.
He blamed the action, as the reason elections were not held in three wards at that time.“The commission later cancelled election in two additional wards, due to violence and reported case of death, bringing to five, the number of wards where elections were cancelled. Amongst them, wards 17 and 18 are Isoko basically the Isoko speaking people.
“Since 2014 till date, all efforts to have election into the remaining wards have proved abortive, because the person representing the area at the state House of Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Friday Osaneobi, is opposed to our community’s representation,” he said.
Also, the group’s Secretary, Richard Okpe, reminded the governor of his campaign pledge and Town Hall meetings in Ndokwa East, where he promised to complete the process started by his predecessor, Emmanuel Uduaghan.
He expressed worry that, more than one year after, “Okowa, who has benefitted so much from the system, is not interested in conducting the said election.” Okpe disclosed that DESIEC, as a body, has written two separate letters to the governor on the need to conduct the remaining elections, noting his response and body language show that he is not interested in doing so.He further reminded the governor of the need to conduct these elections, with a view to putting a stop to the marginalisation of Isoko people in the state.
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