Anxiety as Delta holds LG poll today

DETERMINED to make sure today’s local government election across the 25 councils in the state holds successfully, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), has already distributed all the non-sensitive materials to designated areas.
Besides, the Commission has accredited 12 organisations that applied as election observers for the exercise just as the state government has announced the restriction of movement from 8a.m and 3p.m today in view of the elections.
Chairman of DSIEC, Mr. Moses Ogbe, made this known to Saturday Independent, dismissing rumours in some quarters that the election would not hold as scheduled. He said that those peddling the rumour were “just flying a kite.
“As I speak, all non-sensitive materials meant for the election have been distributed. We have done the master training and the train-the-strainer programme. The Presidency represented by the Office of the Special Assistant on Ethics has also indicated interest to monitor the election.”
He said 12 organisations have been accredited as observers, adding that invitation letters have also been sent out to “UNDP and International Foundation of Election System to come and observe. This is apart from the four persons who have been accredited as observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
The state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, explained that the restriction was to enable voters carry out their civic duty and ensure a peaceful atmosphere for a free and fair election, adding that top government officials were not excluded from the order but were all expected to abide by the order. He advised them to go and cast their votes in their locality and return home.
He said that security agencies have been put on alert to handle all security issues and ensure a hitch-free election.
“I want to assure you that DSIEC has vowed to make the local government election free and fair. PDP is the only party mobilising and campaigning round the various wards in the state,” the governor said.
Before now, DSIEC had disqualified four political parties out of the 15 that collected forms. 11 are said to be eligible to contest the election.
The parties listed by DSIEC to contest the local government poll are Accord, APC, APGA, KOWA, LP, PDM, PDP, SDP, UDP, UPN and UPP while the four that could not meet the deadline are ACD, ADC, NCP and ACPN
Ogbe said the other four political parties were unable to beat the August 26, 2014 deadline for the submission of candidate’s form 001 and 002.