Delta state House of Assembly yesterday dissolved the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).
The dissolution followed a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance by the Majority Leader of the House, Tim Owhefere, seconded by Samuel Mariere, Ughelli North I and was unanimously adopted.
Owhefere, in the motion, said the dissolution was due to the exigencies of the fast improving democracy of Delta state and the constant dynamic of electoral and electioneering processes.
He said his motion was in line with Section 7 subSsection 1 of the laws setting up the Commission hinged due to visible defects and short comings in the state’s electoral processes.
Owhefere said the dissolution would enable the state achieve a better electoral process as well as a better legal definition.
“The topic before us this morning is a very sensitive one.
Mr. Speaker, I want to first of all thank our brothers who have served or who are still serving in the board we seek to dissolve today, because we have a saying that there is no perfect situation.
So, whatever level they have served, they have done their bid and contributed their quota to the growth of democracy in Delta state,” he said.
However, the member representing Warri South II Constituency, Dennis Omovie, opposed the motion by saying that constitutional requirement to dissolve the DSIEC board has to follow due process.
The Speaker, Sherif Oborevwori, thereafter directed the Clerk to provide a teller in order to collate the votes and signatures of the members in view of the peculiar nature of the motion.
The members in a single file approached the Clerk’s table to append their signatures against their names for or against the dissolution of the DSIEC board.
Recall that the House received a bill for a law to repeal the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission2012, titled, ‘Delta State Electoral Law, 2017’, sent through a letter to the house on Tuesday.
Announcing the result of the voting, the Clerk, Mrs. Lyna Ocholor, said 20 members voted for the dissolution, eight members were absent and nobody voted against.
The speaker, thereafter, called on the Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to dissolve the Commission “with immediate effect in line with the requirements of twothird majority votes hereby call.