Daily Independent Online.
*
Tuesday, August 24, 2004.
Mass protests trail ward creation in Delta
By
Tunke-Aye Bisina
Reporter, Asaba
Mass protests have trailed the creation of new electoral
wards by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).
DSIEC had announced the creation of new wards without giving
details but asked communities to come to its office in Asaba for such details
Various groups have openly staged peaceful protests to the DSIEC office and
that of the office of the Political Adviser to the Governor, Chief Ighoyota
Amori, describing the exercise as lopsided and uneven.
One of such groups from Ughelli North Local Government stated that whereas the Agbarha clan
had over 30 villages, only one additional ward was given to it but their
neighbours with less number of villages had three new ones.
The Aliren Youths Association in Alisimie-Agbor, in Ika
South Local Government Area of the state, on its part, accused DSIEC of a
hide-and-seek game, condemning the directive that communities should come to
Asaba for details.
The body in a statement by the Orogodo branch signed by Mr.
Peter Ebuh called on DSIEC to publish the new wards in the newspapers and stop
the hanky-panky game of inviting communities to come for details.
This measure, they argued, besides exonerating the
commission of a foul play, will also save the communities the risk and
time of travelling to Asaba for
details
However,
Mr. Tony Tebekaemi, public affairs officer of the commission in his reaction,
noted that “in such exercise, there have always been protests. What is
happening is that every village wants new wards. But I tell you we (DSIEC) in
creating these new wards ensured
that justice and fairness was our watch word”.
