Reactions have continued to pour out from Delta as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Saturday postponed the election billed for Saturday February 16.
Respondents who spoke our correspondent in Warri, expressed their disappointment over the actions of the INEC, saying they have lost confidence in INEC conducting a free, fare and credible elections in the country.
Mostly affected by the postponement were Bussiness owners in Warri who in spite of the postponement still could not open their stores for businesses as most people remained in their houses.
A drive through the streets of Warri South, Ughelli North and South, and Uvwie council areas of the state saw that many Bussiness owners did not open for businesses.
Some business owners who managed to open their shops told BusinessDay that the postponement of the election would affect their businesses as many people have planned how to spend their day already.
Mr Sylvester Owakwei, an automobile electrician Warri South, said “I am really disappointed in INEC for this act. Look at what they have done to the citizens today. Most of us did not want to come out today because we have already prepared our minds that we are going for elections today. I have been sitting hear today and nobody has come to called me to come and fix his car because people are still at home.
Mr Jude Okereke, an electronic dealer in Warri said he no longer has trust in the INEC, noting that the postponement few hours to the election has shown the world INEC does not have the capacity to conduct elections in the country.
He said, “I did not want to come to open my shop but I just felt that instead of staying at home doing nothing it is better for me to come and open my shop. Look at all the other shops they are looked because nobody expected this.”
Another respondent who have his new simply as Mr Ifeanyi, a Spearparts dealer in Ughelli South, said “When I heard the news on TV I could not believe it. How is this country going to move forward. Some of us have travelled to our villages to vote. Now they are telling us that we cannot vote today, where do they expect us get the money from if we cannot do our businesses today?”
In Warri, some of the INEC ad-hoc staff who had resumed work as early as 6:30am were seeing leaving the Warri INEC office to their various homes.
One of them who spoke to BusinessDay, Miss Marvelous Okiemute said, “I heard about the postponement of the election on TV when I was preparing to go to work. I just have to come and resume work here so that I could be on ground. When we came we were told about the postponement and we were asked to go home.”
Another INEC ad-hoc staff posted to Ogbe-Ijoh, a riverine community in Warri South West council of Delta, Mr Paul Kigho, said, “I resumed here on Friday evening. The situation was initially calm until late in the evening when the youths from different political parties were quarreling on how to distribute the few materials that were on ground.
“I thank God that the election was postponed if not I do not what would have happened today. The atmosphere was to tensed up and some of the villagers were saying they would not come out to vote if the youths continue to fight among themselves.”
-Postponement sign of disappointment: House of Rep member, Ahwinahwi
Member representing Udu/Ughelli North/Ughelli South Federal Constituency, Hon Solomon Ahwinahwi has condenmed the last minute postponement of Saturday’s election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, describing it as a disappointing sign of irresponsibility on the part of the commission.
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, House of Representatives candidate for Ughelli South/Ughelli North/Udu Federal Constituency stressed that Nigerians are disappointed, wondering why an election should be postponed four hours before commencement, especially after elaborate preparations by politicians.
The lawmaker however appealed to his constituents not to be deterred by the undesirable postponement but to remain resolute in their decision to return him to the Green Chamber.
He urged them to sustain their support for him assuring them that victory is sure.
Meanwhile, the very popular lawmaker has urged his supporters to continue their mosquito campaign round the federal constituency.
-Okowa’s aide shot dead in Uvwei, near Warri
Unidentified gunmen on Friday night shot dead Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s Special Assistant on Youth Development, Mr. Lawrence Ngozi Akpomiemie.
According to sources, the governor’s aide was murdered in cold blood around Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, when he was allegedly returning from an outing with his girlfriend.
The development has resulted in heavy shooting in the area by suspected youths causing panic in the area.
Sources added that he was repeatedly shot on his chest and head. The hoodlums were said to have waited until their target gave up the ghost before leaving.
The source said that the deceased known for notoriety was ambushed by the suspected the assailants who made away with huge sum of money found in his possession.
The deceased, our source disclosed had collected the money for elections ‘mobilizations’ when the hoodlums ambushed and shot him repeatedly on the chest and head.
It was not clear if the attackers trailed him over the said money in his possession but sources said the assailants shot him and also carted away the undisclosed sum of money.
Multiple military sources confirmed the development to our correspondent on Saturday morning.
A police source in the area also confirmed the development.
As at the time of filing this report the Delta State Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Chuks Orisezie said he was yet to be briefed on the incident and so cannot speak on the incident until he verifies what happened.
