Uduaghan loses Delta South senatorial election, seeks cancellation

Former Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lost in the Delta South Senatorial District election to incumbent Senator James Manager of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared PDP’s Manager the winner after polling a total of 258, 812 votes to while Uduaghan got 125,776 votes.

However, Uduaghan has called for the cancellation of the election, saying it was massively rigged.

In a petition to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, by his lawyer, E. Otaru, Uduaghan alleged that there were massive election malpractices “perpetrated through voter intimidation, where voters were compelled to vote against their conscience by thugs, who were openly brandishing various dangerous weapons.”

Uduaghan’s petition to the state Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Commissioner came as election officials were still collating the senatorial results at Oleh in Isoko area of the state.

The former governor’s lawyer alleged that “malpractices were made possible by the collaboration of INEC officials with these thugs identified as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, supporters.”

“The areas where these malpractices were more brazen and massive include Burutu, Warri North, Warri South, Bomadi, Patani, Warri South-West, Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Areas.”

He said voters were intimidated by thugs at polling units 5, 6, 7, 8 in Ogbe Ijoh Ward One, Warri South West LGA, parts of Bomadi, four wards in Warri South-West and part of Warri North.

According to the lawyer, “Voting slips were hijacked and in some cases, destroyed, especially in polling units where it is perceived that the APC, head the upper level.”

“Based on the foregoing, we have our client’s instructions to call on you sir and appeal that the election in the aforementioned local government areas is cancelled,” Otaru said.