PDP wins LGA Chairmanship seats in Delta, Adamawa

By Miracle Ogunde

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has won the July 13 council polls in the 24 local government areas in Delta State and also claimed all Adamawa’s 21 LGAs in council election.

The results of the election in Delta were announced on Sunday in Asaba at the headquarters of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC.

Addressing newsmen after the declaration of the results by the LGA Returning Officers, DSIEC Chairman, Dr Jerry Agbaike, said the Allied People’s Movement, APM, won in one electoral wards in Oshimili South local government area.

But Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central senatorial district, described the election as a mere coronation of all PDP-nominated candidates.

He faulted the state electoral umpire, saying they most probably acted on the instructions of the state Governor, who just allotted figures to candidates who took part in the shambolic process.

He described the elections as a complete sham and a mockery of democratic ideals and standards.

Dafinone spoke on the growing concern across the country on how the sitting state Governor uses DSIEC to undermine the growth and development of the electoral system at the local government level.

The Delta Central lawmaker while reacting to the outcome of the council polls held in Delta state said it is very unfortunate that people at the grassroots level are prevented from participating in our democratic process by state governors to freely elect their councillors and council chairman.

In a related development, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, claimed victory in the chairmanship election in all the 21 local government areas of Adamawa State.

Announcing the result on Sunday, following the council election conducted on Saturday, July 13, by the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission, ADSIEC, the commission declared that the result indicated that all the candidates of the PDP won their bid in all the LGAs.

The road to the easy victory for the PDP was helped by the withdrawal of the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, and Social Democratic Party, SDP; both of which had earlier expressed a lack of confidence in ADSIEC to conduct a free and fair election.

ADSIEC, dismissing the criticism of the opposition parties as lacking substance, said its election would be credible, and went ahead to conduct it.

The chairmen-elect as released by ADSIEC, include Demsa LGA: Akham Jaloh; Fufore LGA: Shuaibu Babas; Ganye: Farouk Mohammed; Girei: Adamu Umaru Dala; Gombi: Mark Ishaya; Guyuk: Kassah D. Shalom; Hong: Inuwa Usman; and Jada: Salihu Mahmud Sa’o.

The others are Lamurde: Bulus Daniel; Madagali: Simon Musa Shashi; Maiha: Abubakar Mustapha; Mayo Belwa: Umar Nashong; Michika: Dan Biyu Paul Tumba; Mubi North: Musa Hassan; Mubi South: Hamidu A Jingi; Numan: Innocent Koto; Shelleng: Abubakar Musa Abba; Song: Idris Yahaya; Toungo: Sulaiman Gangkuba; Yola North: Jibril Ibrahim; and Yola South: Salihu Usman Malkoh.