Troops Deployed in Delta Central to Check Rising Tension

Omon-Julius Onabu

28 April 2011

Soldiers were Wednesday deployed in major towns in Delta State, especially in Delta Central senatorial zone as the entire state was practically enveloped in anxiety over the result of Tuesday’s governorship election in the state.

The piecemeal release of the election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from its state head office in Asaba appeared to have heightened the tension.

Initial results in 10 local governments showed that the candidates of the two rival political parties – Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) – each won five apiece.

Initially, Ogboru was leading with 5,000 votes when the results of the first 10 local governments were released, but Uduaghan overtook him when the results of another 11 local government areas were announced. He won in 11 local government areas while Ogboru won in 10. The security beef-up was apparently prompted by protests in the Urhobo-populated Delta Central senatorial zone, particularly in Sapele and Uvwie Local Government areas.

Meanwhile, the police have confirmed the death of an unidentified man in Orerokpe, the administrative headquarters of Okpe Local Government area “during a shoot-out”, but said no arrest was made at press time in connection with the incident.

THISDAY learnt that some of the protesters were angered by the decision of INEC to announce the results in piecemeal from Asaba, instead of the respective local government areas.

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