By Patrick Andrew
Abuja
Despite sweeping the local council polls in Delta state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said claimed the Peoples Democratic Party’s overwhelming victory is evident of a dying party.
The APC, which could only win two council seats in Saturday’s election, has discredited the exercise claiming that it was marred by irregularities. The PDP in the election had won 23 council chairmanships and councillors, while two councils election will be held today.
Describing the party as a “sham,” the APC also alleged that three of its members were shot while scores of others sustained machete wounds as a result of violence recorded in some parts of the state during the election.
In a statement issued yesterday, the APC chairman in the state, Jones Erue, called for the cancellation of the election, noting that upholding the election would mean that the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has connived with the PDP.
“DSIEC has in connivance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) perpetuated a greedy and political dynasty that is already gasping for life.
“This election was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the provisions set out in the DSIEC Law 2017 because sensitive election materials were not delivered as expected to most of the polling units where the actual elections were due to take place
“The bastardization of this simple election that ought to be peaceful shows that PDP is now a dying party in the state, and that they were totally amazed by the level of preparedness, organization and mobilization that APC mustered across the entire state.
“Many Returning Officers were not at the polling units to conduct the elections nor to announce the outcome. For example, a DSIEC Returning Officer at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area was arrested at a Hotel Annex in Ozoro facilitating illegal thumb-printing of votes, and was handed over to the Nigeria Police at Ozoro.
“We are not shocked by the outcome of the election because we had issued out a note of caution previously, warning about the potential for active connivance between DSIEC and PDP officials or agents
