UGHELLI/Nigeria: Delta State APC leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has commended the peaceful conduct of the All Progressive Congress, APC Ward congress held all over the country, Saturday, describing the election as generally peaceful across Delta State.
Speaking to journalists immediately after the congress at his Evwreni ward 8, Emerhor disclosed that party faithful in the ward had a consensus arrangement which has produced the candidates of their choice but said; “in other places there maybe multiple candidates but, we called on party faithful to vote their choice peacefully.”
According to him;”The leadership of the party is doing their best to ensure things are done the way they ought to be done, people should come out and vote for the candidate they want”.
The congress which held at the APC party secretariat in Evwreni began with accreditation of aspirants with a large turn up of party faithful who later queued behind each of the consensus candidate in a very peaceful manner with Mr. Sunday Igboya emerging as the ward chairman.
Speaking further, the party chieftain noted that compared to information he has gathered from other states, the exercise in Delta State so far could be adjudged as peaceful but note that in one of the wards, materials for the congress where stolen but that did not deter them from conducting the congress.
He, however noted that the poll experienced some delay; “I must say that because of the timing of delivery of materials, and the short time for aspirants to obtain and fill their forms even as at today people were still collecting nomination forms to fill.
“Another challenge was to get people who will conduct the election, because they want to satisfy all stakeholders to avoid allegation that some people have hijacked the process, this took time.”
“Apart from these little challenges, the election is going very well, even as we speak, election is still ongoing from the information I got.
“I also understand that, some people who wants to frustrate the exercise broke into the hotel and stole some sensitive materials, but their action was not enough to put a stop to the election, fortunately the materials has not left, so those they stole, was taking note of, in order to certify them.
“We understand that it was result sheets that were stolen; you know politicians are always in the habits of stealing result, but that is under check.
On the uproar over the choice of centers for the conduct of the congress, Emerhor explained that competing interest in the party were giving conflicting directive, but the party election guideline stated that the congress committee should decide the venue, and the first option is party secretariat at the Ward, unless where it’s not conducive, stakeholders will agree on venue.
Emerhor added that; “I voted at the party secretariat in my Ward, at Evwreni, Ughelli North and it was very peaceful and orderly. Considering the information we are getting from other state, I think we are doing very well in Delta state, but like I said, the election is still ongoing.
Our correspondent’s findings revealed that the congress went on peacefully in the various wards of the 25 LGAs of the state.
Meanwhile report from Afiesere Ward 3/7, Agbarha-Otor, Ughweru and Agbarho states that the congress went peaceful, while reports from Jeremi Ward 3/10 in Ughelli South local government area states that materials for the congress where allegedly stolen while some party members where attacked.
