Uduaghan urges electorate to shun violence in Delta run-off polls

• APC, APGA fault victory of Ajidua’s wife, others

AHEAD of next Saturday’s Delta Central Senatorial run-off election, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has appealed to the electorate in the area to shun acts capable of disrupting the election.

The governor who made the appeal in Warri during a meeting with elders and leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the area warned against inciting statements stating that security agencies were poised to deal with anyone engaged in electoral violence.

He reminded politicians and their supporters of the clean bill given to the state by international and local elections observers in the just concluded general elections, stressing that everyone must avoid electoral violence because of the negative effects it has on the economy of the state.

He advised eligible voters in the area to come out and cast their votes as the state government had done everything possible to guarantee their safety.

He enjoined leaders of the party in the area to lead the party to victory in the run-off election as well as thanked all who worked for the victory of the PDP in the previous elections.

Governor-elect, Ifeanyi Okowa advised members of the party to be committed to victory in the run-off election.

He condemned acts of violence in some areas particularly in Uvwie local council which affected the chances of the PDP in the elections and advised PDP supporters to mobilise vote for the party candidate Chief Ighoyota Amori.

The state PDP Chairman, Edwin Uzor, encouraged members of the party not to do anything that would affect the party’s chances in the election.
He reminded members that since the run-off election was the last election they should mobilise for votes for the party’s candidate.

Meanwhile, smarting from his loss in the House of Assembly election in Oshimili North Constituency, the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Tony Azuya, described the polls in the area as a charade that should not be allowed to stand.

Azuya who spoke with reporters in his hometown of Ibusa said that the exercise was an embarrassment to the nation, alleging that results were manipulated and falsified right from the polling units to the collation centre by agents of PDP in connivance with electoral officials and security agencies.

Azuya who lost out to the PDP’s candidate, Mrs. Pat Ajudua, wife of socialite Fred Ajudua alleged that the exercise was fraught with violence and irregularities perpetuated by agents of his opponent.

He demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should properly audit the card readers used and declare him as winner of the election.

Also, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Isoko South constituency I, Essien Okiemute, claimed that he was rigged out by the PDP.

Essien alleged that the exercise was characterised by violence, snatching of ballot materials, multiple thumb printing, stuffing of ballot papers and financial inducement of voters, calling for the cancellation of results in the affected wards and units.

His counterpart for Isoko North constituency, Andrews Elueni, called for the cancellation of results in the area, alleging that he was held hostage by security agencies during the election, for the PDP to perpetuate the rigging.

The PDP candidate for Ethiope East constituency, Arthur Akpowowo has urged INEC to uphold the cancellation of three wards where card readers were not used for accreditation, imploring the commission to declare him as winner of the election with results from eight wards.

But a coalition of INEC accredited election observers in their report, described the elections as free, fair and credible and a reflection of the wishes of the electorate in the state