In a surprising turn of events, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ughelli North Chapter in Delta State has decided to withdraw from the upcoming local government elections scheduled for July 13. Party leaders expressed their lack of confidence in the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), claiming it is incapable of conducting free, fair, and credible elections.
In a press release issued and was seen by the Advocate NG revealed that after an emergency meeting at the party Secretariat on Kom. 27, Ughelli-Patani Road, Ughelli North APC leaders accused the electoral body of recruiting members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as ad-hoc staff for the election. They also alleged that all DSIEC board members are PDP card-carrying members, which they believe compromises the commission’s neutrality and independence.
The APC emphasized that free and fair elections are crucial for democratic processes, allowing citizens to choose leaders who will foster development and growth. However, they expressed concerns that DSIEC, under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori and Dr. Jerry Agbaike, lacks the necessary qualities to ensure a transparent electoral process.
The party cited the constitution of the board and the recruitment of ad-hoc staff as evidence of interference by the Delta State PDP-led government in the independence of DSIEC. They recalled media reports accusing the governor and his associates of recruiting party members, as well as mistresses and girlfriends, to serve as electoral umpires. The APC viewed this as a situation where the judge becomes the accused.
The party outlined several key points to support their decision to boycott the election: All ad-hoc staff selected by DSIEC for the local government election are PDP card-carrying members. All current members of DSIEC are PDP card-carrying members, suggesting a lack of impartiality. The extant laws relating to the local government election have not been properly adhered to. DSIEC has not made any official announcements regarding the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to various local governments, wards, and units.
The APC leaders referred to the governor’s previous statement where he boasted that his government would not allow any room for opposition parties to secure even a single seat in the election, regardless of whether it takes place or not. These factors, combined with the aforementioned concerns, led the Ughelli North Chapter of APC to make the difficult decision to boycott the election entirely.
With this unexpected move, the political landscape of Ughelli North takes a twist as the APC refrains from participating in the local government elections, raising questions about the credibility and fairness of the electoral process. As the election day approaches, the focus now shifts to how this development will impact the overall outcome and the future political dynamics in Delta State.
