INEC Staff In Bribery Scandal In Delta Community

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta state, and the INEC zonal officer in charge of Uvwie, Akhigbe Edwin, have been called upon to check the excesses of their workers in Uvwie and other Local Government in Delta Central.

The community alleged that the INEC officers are demanding money from those who are going for Voter’s Card Registration.

An investigation carried out by our correspondent showed that the INEC officers were demanding between N1, 200 to N1, 500 to register a prospective individual seeking for Voter’s Card.

The situation became pathetic as a good number of people who turned up for the registration were turned back and deprived of their franchise.

The youths in Uvwie are therefore calling on the Chairman, Hon. Ramson Onoyake, to check the workers attached to INEC office since there is no time remaining for members of the public to register.

They said the exercise is closing on the first week of September, adding that if the ugly incident is not checked, many eligible voters will be robbed of the chances.

They expressed regrets that there are other states where INEC workers are going from place to place to ensure that members of the public registered for the coming elections.

In a related development, Rev. Monday Madukwe has called on the INEC officers to visit the markets and schools in order to help the teachers and market women who find it difficult to register.

He appealed to Governor Ifanyi Okowa of Delta state to increase the machines and workers to ensure that a good number of people are registered ahead of the 2019 elections.

Meanwhile, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and former chairmanship aspirant for Warri North Local Government Council, Chief David Seikiri Ugedi, has described Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as machinery for development, hence Deltans are getting the practical dividends of democracy.

Ugedi who stated this while speaking on the successful hosting of the 21 Senior African Athletics championship in Asaba by the Delta State government, said Governor Okowa has redefined good governance with the level of development the state has recorded since May 29, 2015.

He said Governor Okowa should be commended for putting up infrastructure within a short time to host the championship when other states turned down request to host the athletic championship.

Ugedi, who is a member of the Egbema Political Forum (EPF), noted that the event has put global recognition on the state, stressing that Governor Okowa has embarked on life transforming projects across the state.

While calling on Deltans to support the Governor for a second term in 2019, Ugedi who is the traditional title holder of Bebetebefiawei of Egbema Kingdom, said there was need for consolidation.

He listed some of the projects executed by the Okowa administration to include road infrastructures in the 25 local government councils, massive drainage systems in Asaba and other parts of the state, rehabilitation of the Asaba International Airport, skill acquisition programmes for youths under the STEP and YAGEP programmes, development of technical colleges, among others.