The Ndokwa Arise Change Initiative (NACI), an Advocacy group for good governance in Ndokwa nation had called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the 28 of March House of Representative election for Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal Constituency due to massive irregularities in the process.
In a petition by the group, signed by Comr. Chukwuemeke K. Victor, and copied the chairman of the various political parties, and Commissioner of Police, Delta state, the group alleges wide act of intimidation and ballot snatching at various polling units especially in Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East.
The group says that the federal election was inconclusive as the entire Ndokwa East was voided, and since the Ndokwa East LGA is part of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal Constituency, it means the representative at the federal house cannot be decided by only results from Ndokwa West and Ukwuani LGA’s.
The group also called the attention of the commission on the wide cases of electoral frauds in many places, such as, Utagba-Uno, particularly Unit 4, Umuseti, where there was no vote recorded as eligible voters were reported to have been intimidated by men of the ruling party.
The petition, also made reference to Ogume, Ward 7, where according to them “ in the process of intimidating and/or harassing INEC’s Supervising Presiding Officers who refused to accept instructions from the ruling party, voters were reported to have been engulfed with fear as thugs invaded the ward”.
The group also said that Unit 1 and Unit 2 Kwale, electoral process was marred by the snatching of ballot boxes. Similar occurrence was equally reported to have taken place in Units 6, 31 and 32, Azunze, Umusadeii and Umuseti respectively.
The group according to the petition, said that Voters were also intimidated by some thugs reported to have been men of the ruling party at Onicha-Ukwani, Adoh Primary School, particularly Unit 6 and in Units 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 15, 3 and 16 Asabamal primary school, Obiogwa in Ugili-amai, Ibabu I & II, Obi-Ukpo, Ugili-amai Uno which from report and investigation was organised by chieftain of the ruling party, who was a former senator of the Federal Rebublic.
The petition also detailed how ward 10 Emu, in Ndokwa West reported on how agents of other political parties where chased away by agents of the ruling party thereby using the security men present as a weapon of intimidation. While in Unit 7, voting was deliberately delayed till about 9pm.
The petitioners therefore concluded by calling on INEC, that Following the above analyses and/or findings, the eligible voters in the affected areas expressed disappointment and that the election was ill-conducted, “And this will amount to total and absolute injustice to have a representative in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency at the National Assembly level, when equal right to elect choice of candidate is being violated in some areas within the jurisdiction of the federal constituency”. They concluded.
