INEC Office Burnt In Ughelli

Barely 48 hours to the Delta State governorship rerun election, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ughelli has been burnt down by unknown arsonists.

Some materials for the election were said to have been gutted by fire.

The incident was confirmed by the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, Mr. Charles Muka, who said it occurred today, 4 January 2011.

He, however, said that no life was lost, adding that the security guard on duty has been arrested to assist the police in their investigation.

Meanwhile, the election has generated a lot of heat and promises to be a keen contest. The various candidates have rounded off their campaign, with the grand one held today at the Warri stadium for former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

The rally was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, South South and South East governors as well as thousands of PDP supporters.

However, the chances of Uduaghan clinching victory is being threatened by Great Ogboru the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, candidate as well as the candidate of Republican Party of Nigeria, RPN, Barrister Omo Agege.

The masses appear to be backing Great Ogboru. Civil servants also want him as governor as well as commercial motorcycle operators also known as okada riders.

Handsome Uroha, an okada rider, stated that Ogboru will win but his fear is that the election might be rigged for Uduaghan

Also speaking, the Delta State chairman of RPN, Barrister Felix Osalum, opined that the PDP and its candidate were panicking because they realised that the big masquerades have entered the race and the small ones must give way.

Barrister Felix spoke with confidence that their candidate, Barr. Omo Agege will win the election and the world will acknowlege the greatness of Great Ogboru as the long awaited governor.

However, the Delta State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chief Akpeki Paulinus, has also expressed the confidence that with today’s rally in which President Jonathan led other national leaders of the PDP to mobilise support for Uduaghan, success at the polls was doubly sure for the PDP candidate.

The PDP has also started a legal battle even before the rerun election for the disqualification of Great Ogboru by instituting a case at the Federal High Court Abuja that Ogboru did not comply with the provisions of the 2006 Electoral Act.

By Yomi Obaditan/Asaba