State PDP chairman escapes lynching as violence mars council polls in Delta

Alphonsus Agborh, Asaba - 11.05.2008

Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairman, Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi, narrowly escaped lynching by angry mob suspected to be members of the opposition parties over alleged council polls malpractices.

Sunday Tribune gathered that he came to ward 6, Omu Boys Primary School, Ibusa, in Oshimili North council area , his home town, to form alliance with the electoral officer, who they alleged was a PDP card carrying member.

It was further learnt that if not for the quick intervention of his orderlies, who were shooting sporadically into the air, to scare the angry mob, he would have been lynched to death.

In another development, members of opposition parties in the state have rejected the council polls held across the state yesterday, claiming, no election was held anywhere in the state, just as late arrival of materials disenfranchised eligible voters from casting votes in some local government areas visited.

Prince Obaro Unuafe, who doubles as the chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and Forum of Registered Political Parties in the state said, “there was no election in the state, the whole thing was a diabolical terror unleashed on Delta state by PDP. Infact the so called election was characterised by violence, thuggery and fraud all over the state.

We hereby reject any kangaroo result that may be declared by the so called DSIEC.”

According to him, “it is a monumental tragedy that DSIEC, that sermonized so much about a level playing ground could release election result sheets to PDP and some of their cohorts last, Friday,May 9, 2008. The results were compiled at H&O Hotel, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area and other places. We reject this evil act and also call for immediate dissolution of DSIEC and total rejection of the result that will emanate from this diabolic connivance”.

Checks revealed that people were seen waiting, saying, they had waited for hours and had not seen any of the electoral officers.

“They told us voting will start by 9 o’clock, this is 12 now,we are still waiting, hoping that what happened in the state during the April general elections will not repeat itself”, they complained.