Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State on Tuesday charged the State Independent Electoral Commission to produce modalities for conducting local government elections in the state.
Uduaghan gave the charge while inaugurating the Chairman and members of the commission in Asaba.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that six of the eight members commission, including the Chairman, Moses Ogbe, were sworn-in by the governor.
The governor said that the commission was critical to the overall future of the country’s democracy, adding that it was not the desire of the state government to delay the council elections.
Uduaghan said: “As umpires at this level, you are critical to the overall future of democracy. I therefore, wish to state that the commission is expected to immediately come up with the necessary arrangement for the local government elections.
“I equally expect that it will be one that is not only realistic but will be followed religiously for a successful exercise.”
He said that opposition from some quarters over the disqualification of one of the nominees for the commission by the state House of Assembly, which was being challenged in court, was a major cause of the delay.
Uduaghan said: “My interest has been for the representative of democracy to return to the grassroots of Delta state as against executive fiat through caretaker committees.
“However, the process of establishing DSEIC has been very challenging, hence the delay in conducting the much-awaited local government elections in the state.”
He also charged politicians to strive to build a political culture among the electorate that would promote values of a united and strong nation anchored on patriotism and devoid of any sentiments or affiliations.
While noting that democracy had come to stay in the country, the governor said that the country would emerge stronger with an enduring democracy model for the world.
Uduaghan charged the members to prove themselves worthy of the task and urged the political class to exhibit maturity in their conducts by ensuring that peace reigned supreme in the state.
The governor noted that a member of the commission, Dr. Embra Agbeotu, who was absent at the inauguration, would be sworn in at a letter date with another member yet to be nominated to bring the membership to eight.
Responding on behalf of the members, Ogbe assured the governor of their commitment to deliver on the assignment.
Ogbe solicited for the support of all stakeholders to enable them conduct the polls that would meet the expectations of the people.
Other members of DSEIC that were sworn-in were David Johnson, Chief Mark Ulebe, Bright Igbako, Fredrick Utapa and Gregory Edeme.
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