Delta Local Polls Turns Bloody, Campaign Office Touched, Cars Destroyed, Witnesses Low Turnout of Voters

The long awaited Delta Local Polls kicked off today in a bloody note as the campaign office of APC governorship aspirant, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor was touched and scores of APC members were allegedly attacked with dangerous weapons, just as voter apathy sets in.

It was alleged that members of an opposition party stormed Emerhor’s campaign office at about 11:00am and touched it. The office is located at the Effurun/Sapele Road by Refinery Road Junction.

The fire, it was learnt was not severe as spirited efforts were made to control it.

Mayor O. Mayor, APC ward 1 chairman,  Uvwie Local Government Area on telephone claimed that Emerhor’s campaign office was invaded by some youths working for an opposition party.

But it was gathered that some insiders within the party may have lit the campaign’s office as a result of internal crisis.  This could not be verified as at press time.

In a similar development, Members of APC in Ekpan and Ugborikoko areas in Uvwie Local Government Area, have cried foul over the Delta Local polls alleging attacks by members of an opposition party.

APC woman leader in Ward six in Uvwie Local Government Area, Bose Russia, told our reporter on phone that members of an opposition party allegedly attacked APC members at Ugborikoko police station with dangerous weapons.

“They have just attacked us with dangerous weapons at the Ugborikoko police station as we were waiting for the distribution of materials. They attacked us with dangerous weapons and as I am talking to you now I am running for my dear life because I am their target. They want to kill me. Right now the materials are still at the police station and the police watched helplessly as we were being attacked by thugs of an opposition party, ” she said.

Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen at Kiagbodo in Burutu local government area, Chief Edwin Clark said; “Local Polls are overdue in Delta State. Caretaker Committee Chairmen have been piloting the affairs of the state for some times now and this is not Democratic. But I am happy today that elections are going to take place in all the 25 local government areas.”

He added; “I just hope that the election will be free and fair. Let there be improvement in the distribution of sensitive materials so that the people are not kept waiting endlessly.”

At Otujeremi, Headquarters of Ughelli South, materials left DSIEC office at about 12:30 pm, just as voters were seen waiting anxiously for the materials in the polling units.

In ward 8, unit 8, in Sapele local government area, materials arrived at about 11: 38 am and accreditation kicked off smoothly.

In ward 12, unit 2, Oghara, headquarters of Ethiope West local government area, materials arrived at about 8:15 am and accreditation started almost immediately.

It was learnt that late arrival of materials also affected the take off of the election in most parts of the wards and units in Ethiope East local government area.

At Uvwie Local Government Area, Ward 4, Unit 11, materials arrived at about 12:30 pm and accreditation was going on but no result sheets were available.

In Igbudu ward 9 units 3 and 4 materials arrived at about 11: 35 am, no result sheets were available, but voting was in progress.

At Okumagba ward 9, unit 13, materials arrived at about 10:30 am but the turnout of voters was very low just as voting was going on.

Our Correspondent gathered that violence rocked Koko, Headquarters of Warri North Local government area,  when youths protesting the delay of the commencement of voting, destroyed no fewer than ten vehicles.