Uduaghan Says PDP All the Way As Mammoth Turnout in Abigborodo, Sapele,

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state has said it is PDP all the way as large turnout trooped out in Abigborodo, his country home for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday.

Uduaghan who was expected to vote at ward 6 unit Abigbodoro met no INEC personnel on sight until about 11:45 am when they were ferry through speedboat to the community. Uduaghan was accredited around 12 noon after which he voted around 3:28pm followed by his wife.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after casting his vote, Uduaghan expressed delight over the enthusiasm displayed by eligible voters in the area who had waited patiently under the scorching sun to cast their votes saying it is PDP all the way in the area.

The governor said that though there was initial delay in the commencement of the exercise, the process have been okay so far as he under gone his biometric data verification without any hitches.

“The way the election is going, I can say it is an acceptable way of voting but I have gotten feelers from other part of the state that the process is slow and delaying so I can’t give a general assessment of the card reader for now.

“Our expectation is that at the end of the day, PDP would win the presidential, House of Representatives and Senate election all the way here”.

Speaking on the skirmishes at Udu Council, Uduaghan expressed worried that a PDP chieftain was beaten up by thugs deployed by a member of the opposition party in the area saying security agents have been told to fish out the perpetrators.

Voters also trooped out enmass in Sapele Council area under the scorching sun to cast their vote in the voting exercise which was delayed as a result of late arrival of electoral materials.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the presidential and National Assembly elections in Udu Local Government Area owing discrepancies over whereabout of result sheets and orgy of violence in the area.

Daily Times learnt that former transition committee chairman in Udu Council area, Mr. Raymond Adijala was a victim of violence skirmishes which erupted in the area eve of the presidential election as suspected thugs were said to have macheted him.

INEC also postponed the National Assembly election in Ethiope East and Ethiope West Local Government areas, which make up Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency, because of a mix up with election materials delivered to the area late Friday.

Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Anidi Ikowak, announced the development, Daily Times learnt.

At Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government area, the card reader failed to verified Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark three times before he was later accredited to vote after concerted effort by INEC officials.

It was the same situation in Bomadi where INEC officials had difficulties with the card reader in verifying voters including James Manager who is seeking a fourth term in the National Assembly to represent Delta South Senatorial District.