SAN FRANCISCO, March 29, (THEWILL) – An orgy of violence on Saturday marred the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Udu Council area of Delta State, forcing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend elections in the area, THEWILL has learnt.
The elections were put on hold owing to violent disagreement which erupted in the area over the whereabouts of result sheets which were allegedly hijacked by some members of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It was gathered that former transition committee chairman in Udu Council area, Mr. Raymond Adijala, was a victim of the violent skirmishes which erupted in the area on the eve of the presidential election as suspected thugs were said to have macheted him.
There were also pockets of violence around Warri metropolis where report said some thugs loyal to the ruling PDP descended on eligible voters including some journalists who were monitoring the exercise.
Notwithstanding the lapses recorded in some part of the state, the election witnessed massive turnout in most council areas visited.
At Abigborodo, country home of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the enthusiasm displayed by eligible voters delighted Uduaghan who chorus after casting his vote; “it is PDP all the way”.
The governor who was expected to vote at ward 6 unit 1, Abigbodoro met no INEC personnel on sight until about 11:45 am when they were ferried through speedboat enroute Koko to the community.
Uduaghan was accredited around 12 noon after which he cast his vote around 3:28pm followed by his wife, Roli.
Uduaghan expressed delight over the enthusiasm displayed by eligible voters in the area who had waited patiently under the scorching sun to cast their votes.
The governor said that though there was initial delay in the commencement of the exercise, the process have been impressive so far as his biometric data verification was done without any hitches.
He stated that the election process was smooth, saying “The process is smooth all the way, accreditation was very quick, it took less than a minute.”
On the use of card reader, the Governor said, “for me and my wife, it was quite smooth using the card reader, but I am getting some feelers from some places that it did not work perfectly.”
While expressing hope that the PDP would win in the elections, the Governor decried an attack on a PDP chieftain “by some thugs of the opposition party,” assuring that security agents were on the trail of the perpetrators.
At Sapele council area, voters also trooped out en masse under the scorching sun to exercise their franchise though the exercise was delayed as a result of late arrival of electoral materials.
At Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government area, the card reader failed to verified Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, three times before he was later accredited to vote after concerted effort by INEC officials.
The situation was the same in Bomadi where INEC officials had difficulties with the card reader in verifying voters including James Manager who is seeking a fourth term in the National Assembly to represent Delta South Senatorial District.
Meanwhile, President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged eligible voters to vote their conscience.
He spoke shortly after undergoing the accreditation process at about 11:18am in GRA Ward 5, unit 1 & 2 Warri South LGA.
Oritsejador expressed satisfaction over the use of the card reader for the election minute after he was accredited.
He said: “From what I have seen, it is going well and I hope it is like this throughout the country because it wouldn’t be fair if faces like us that are known are accredited to vote and the process is not the same for the ordinary Nigerian.
“But I pray it goes well everywhere, if it goes like this the way it goes for me, I think it is wonderful and fantastic.
“There has not been any report of anywhere and we are happy with the situation,” he said.
He urged eligible voters to vote their conscience and for someone who has the interest of the people and nation at heart.
The card reader however failed to verify the biometric fingers print of the Delta state Head of Service, Mr Patrick Origho, three times as at 11:25am shortly after Oritsejafor passed through the same process smoothly.
President of Nigeria Football Association. Mr Pinnick Amaju, was accredited to vote also at the polling unit.
At Nana Collage where Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, was accredited to vote around 12:53am, one of the card readers at ward 5, unit 3 & 4 Warri South LGA with code number 10/24/05/003A failed as INEC ad hoc staff couldn’t access the username and password used to unlock the machine.
APC Delta South Senatorial District Candidate, Yemi Emiko, who was at the polling unit expressed disappointment over the development but added that the process wouldn’t fail totally as only one of the machines had failed in the polling unit.
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