DSIEC gets commendation for peaceful LG polls

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

The Local Government elections conducted in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State by the State Independent Electoral Commission (DSiEC) has been described as one of the most credible and transparent elections in the state.
Mr. Felix Ideh, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, and the erstwhile secretary of the party in the area and former chairperson of all ward secretaries in the area, Lady Anthonia Chukwuedo, stated this while fielding questions from journalists shortly after casting their votes.
Mr. Ideh, who commended the voters in the area for coming out in their large numbers to vote, said that the turn out was unprecedented but noted that due to the need to adhere to the Covid-19 protocols, voters were urged to vote and go home to avoid unnecessary crowding, just as he attributed the overwhelming participation to the sensitisation earlier carried out in the area by himself on the process of voting .
Lady Chukwuedo, on her part, noted that as a result of the giant strides of the Okowa Administration in the area , there was no opposition in the community, adding that they had been participating in all elections in the area as one family.
Speaking at the Ogbeozoma Unit , the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party in ward nine, comprising Okpanam and Ugbolu, Mr. Fredrick Odanwu and a frontline entrepreneur, Comrade Sam-jibunor Emeifeogwu, said that elections in Okpanam had always been peaceful and lauded residents for coming out to vote.
At Obodogba Health Centre Unit , those who spoke to newsmen including a Special Assistant to the Governor, Honourable Nnayenum Ogwude , Honourable Victor Dunkwu, a former Supervisory Councillor, Mr. Uche Patrick Ogbolu and Comrade Sam-jibunor Emeifeogwu as well the Secretary of Okpanam Youths Development, Comrade James Omunizua, admonished the voters in the community to sustain their level of participation in elections.
Comrade Omunizua, however, described Okpanam as a community with the highest voting population strength in Oshimili North Local Government Area.
Also speaking, elder Patrick Obienyi, Mr. Tony Okocha and Comrade Udoka Asoya said that the local government election was grassroots based , stressing that the people should participate in order to contribute in the development of the area.