Presidential Elections: Delta APC Calls For Cancellation Of Results

Emerhpr Describes Election As Sham

By FRED OGHENESIVBE

The Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the outright cancellation of last Saturday Presidential election held in the state, saying the election was a sham, alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) manipulated results to favour their party candidates in Delta State.

The Governorship candidate of the APC in Delta Sate, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor made this call on Monday March 30, at his Country home in Warri while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the elections in the state. He called on INEC to announce a date for the conduct of fresh election in the state.

He therefore, called on all its party agents in the state not to sign any INEC doctored or fake results sheets criminally by PDP riggers in collaboration with corrupt INEC officials pointing out that all results so far collated in Delta State were fraudulently obtained by PDP and submitted to INEC in Asaba for declaration.

"We are saying to INEC that the election that took place on Saturday in Delta state was a farce. So many things went wrong and as I speak to you now, Delta state results are being manipulated by PDP. Our agents do not even know the location of INEC returning officers. I understand that twelve results have reached INEC in Asaba. They have suspended collation right now and they are waiting for the process of falsifying results to continue until a total of 1.7 million votes for the Presidential candidate of PDP is achieved," Emerhor disclosed.

The Delta State APC governorship candidate lamented that while the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega was announcing results in Abuja, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Aniedi-Abasi Ikiowak was busy collaborating with PDP riggers to manipulate results that will favour the ruling party.

Emerhor further asserted that most result sheets in many polling units were confiscated, while in other units there were no result sheet, adding that even some resident electoral officers in some local government areas were kidnapped and taken to unknown destinations.

He blamed the lacuna in manipulation of Delta state election on INEC's to the last minute decision to use manual voting as opposed to the use of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) that would have enabled them detect the on going manipulation of votes and falsification of election results.

Emerhor further disclosed that information available to him shows that Warri South/West local government area of the state has eighty thousand (80,000) registered voters, but was surprised when INEC in Asaba announced eighty five thousand (85,000) accredited voters, adding that the scenario was the same in all the local government areas.

The APC candidate said the party has directed its agents to write a protest letter to INEC to register their displeasure over the conduct of the election in the state.

He also alleged that security agents and ad hoc staff of INEC were compromised by PDP to manipulate results to favour PDP, adding that they will not accept any result announced by INEC in Delta state.

While condemning the attack on journalists in Warri by some unidentified policemen in Ughelli, Delta State ,Emerhor said the attack was a "desperation by the ruling party to hide their dubious activities such that some security operatives compromised and starting assaulting law abiding Journalists who are out there performing their legitimate assignments."