LG polls: Opposition parties vow to sue Delta govt

Alphonsus Agborh, Asaba - 30.01.2008

Forum of Registered Political Parties in Delta State has threatened to drag the state government to court for allowing the transition committee chairmen to remain in office unduly.

At a press briefing at the Labour Party office in Asaba on Tuesday, the parties accused the state government of “criss-crossing” every formation and prevailing on the state Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) to breach the constitutional provisions for the smooth conduct of council polls.

Chairman of the forum, Chief Obaru Onuafe, said “we all agreed that the 25 transition committee chairmen will not exceed three months in office, but from what is obvious now, the plot by the state government and DSIEC show that they may not vacate office until April-May.”

He vowede that if they (transition chairmen) did not vacate office before the ed of next month (February), “then, going to court will be inevitable.”

Passing a vote of no confidence on the state government, they insisted that the DSIEC chairman, Justice Samuel Jaho (rtd), should resign, describing him as a tool in the hand of the PDP in the state, saying, “we doubt it if he will be able to conduct a good election.”

The parties in attendance included the Progressive Peoples Party, Labour Party, Action Congress, Justice Party, Democratic Peoples Party, National Conscience Party, All Nigeria Peoples Party, among others.