By Oye Chijioke.
Huge electoral frauds including other irregularities ranging from failure of card readers, use fake National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members and snatching of ballot boxes by political hoodlums Saturday 28 reared its ugly head across Delta State as some voters who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity described the election as total failure and a disaster.
While calling for conciliation of the election in most of the area visited by our correspondent, the voters said that the use of card readers as insisted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss prof. Attahiru Jega portended a fraud to compound the voters’ interest in electioneering process.
At Uzoigwe and Asagba primary schools in Asaba, the use of card readers was a disaster as Corp members who were assigned resorted to the use of manuals means to ascertained the voters true identity even though there were appreciable level of turnout of voters
Expectedly, voters were seen in different groups before the commencement of voting, speaking in a hush tones as some said they were in a feast over the senatorial candidates
Two strong candidates Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) who lost his Governorship ambition under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) umbrella to pick the senatorial ticket of Accord Party, to run for Delta North Senatorial seat at the National Assembly (NASS) and Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi former state chairman of PDP who also picked the ticket of Delta North Senatorial seat, created palpable tension among various members of the party as a dicey situation.
In Ibusa, ward 5, unit 3, it was randy as three fake NYSC member were assigned to duty at a very popular primary school (name withheld) were a large numbers of voters were seen to cast their votes. But the police Public Relation Officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu who confirmed that the fake NYSC members were later taken to the police station, disclose that police detective uncover their evil plans on a tip off.
Speaking to our correspondent, a party chieftain in the area who did not want his name in the print, said that Ibusa community on the outset of elections has been violence, described the situation as pathetic and called for responsible way of voting during elections.
Ogwashi-Uku, ward 3, unit 14, 15, 16 and 17, was not left out of the peaceful atmosphere where voters gathered to exercise their rights, just as the Presiding Officer, Peter Chukwuyem hinted that their major problem was the inability of the machine to identify finger prints.
Speaking to our correspondent, a PDP chieftain in the area, Chief Mike Nwaukoni aligned with our reporter, saying that the area was very calm and peaceful as everything went on smoothly, hoping that people should vote for credible candidates.
“In this very area, look at the primary school, very hazard and we have a chairman from this very place. So we need a change but the only person we are concern about is Peter Nwaoboshi, he is not credible, he is not a son of the soil, he is not supposed to be in six years as the chairman of the party. There is nothing to write home about him. He is a Nikopol, he is an eyesore, he is not supposed to be from this very area, we don’t need him, he is a drunkard”.
“We want somebody like Ochei, the best candidate for this race, he is the only one that will lead us and we have believe on him and we pray that the Almighty God will protest him”.
Speaking on the suspension placed on Ochei for defecting, Nwaukoni said, “Accord is PDP from inception”, revealing that his late younger brother who was the sole PDP candidate in the area in the 2011 election was defeated by Accord. So, Accord is part of PDP, we must follow Accord”, pointing out that Ajudua’s wife and some other persons have defected and won from Accord, it is part of PDP”, he reiterated.
Also, the Iyasere I of Ogwashi-Uku, Chief Collins Afunwa also said the process was very smooth as there was no record of any crisis, but expressed optimism of someone who must come out victorious in the election.
In Kwale, Obiaruku, reports said that six ballot boxes were allegedly snatched at various polling units by political hoodlums believed to have been loyal to a certain political party while allegation of sporadic shootings scare hits various polling units in the area.
Police authority however confirmed pocket of violence in Agbor and its environs, stating that some of the units were put on hold as a result of insecurity.
At Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South, ward 1, units one to five and ward II, units six to nine, elections were relatively peaceful.
The House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Mrakpor Onyemechi said she was proud of INEC for the conduct of the election, though she said they had the challenge of card reader when it started but they have gotten it right.
“Seeing Nigerians adapt so very easily to card reader, I think it is a great future for Nigeria. And for me I think my victory had already been guarantee by heaven and today it has been established
In Ukala-opunor and neighbouring communities Accord Party agents and some Corp members assigned on duty were alleged to have been beaten up by the rampaging political thugs ‘an act described by Hon. Ochei as sad, undemocratic and crude, calling on conciliation of the election.
While at Onicha-Oluna, Aniocha North, ward four, the home town of Ochei, five persons were arrested for causing pandemonium at Ugba Primary School where the elections took place
Ochei said, “I get reports of pockets of violence, election malpractice here and there but I am not there, I cannot confirm or deny them either. The trust is the process is a beat cumbersome and because it is relatively new, people are not flowing with it the way they ought to. Maybe logistics delayed the process”, adding that he was sure the country would do better if it wants to.
However, there was no election in Udu local government area due to rampaging youths.
