Ahead of the October 25, 2014 Delta State Council Poll, the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has assured of a level playing field devoid of imposition of candidates.
Uduaghan, who gave the assurance last week at a meeting of members of the Warri North Local Government chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasised that only popular aspirants will be fielded as candidates for the election, warning against any form of violence.
“We have agreed that there will be no imposition of candidates, if you are interested, go about your consultations, talk to leaders, talk to women, talk to youths,” the governor said.
He added, “I beg us, let us do this election peacefully, the election should not be a do or die affair, if you don’t win in this election, there will be another one in the next three years. It is very important that we must choose popular candidates, especially for councillorship positions because, they will be representing the grassroots.”
The governor used the occasion to debunk insinuations that he influenced the date for the elections as fixed by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), saying, “I was not the one who fixed the date for the local government election, it was fixed by DSIEC and we should show that we are ready for the elections.”
The Chairman of the PDP in the council area, Mr. John Okoroloko in an address said the people of the state are waiting for July 28 to commence electioneering campaigns, as stated by DSIEC. He boasted that the result of the election will be 100 per cent PDP, as far as Warri North is concerned because, “we are going to ensure that, it is only credible and sellable candidates that will fly the flag of the party at the elections.”
Leaders of the party in the area including Chief Emmanuel Ebimami, Mrs. Sola Williams and the youths who spoke at the meeting said the PDP was prepared for the local government election.
Meanwhile, the state commissioner of Information, Chike Ogeah, who spoke to The Guardian on phone has dispelled fears in some quarters that government may not hold the election as promised, saying all machineries have been put in motion and there is no going back.
He disclosed that there are procedures for holding a valid council election, which is being strictly observed, adding that the governor does not determine if local government election will hold.
Ogeah noted that it is a statutory exercise in which a legally constituted body has been set up and in the absence of a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, nobody can stop the election.
“The governor has never interfered in the running of local governments in Delta State and so has nothing to cover. The electorate determines winners of elections. No individual, including the governor, can single handedly put anybody in office. The present members of transition committee of local governments are barred from contesting.”
