REVEALED: Why Gov Okowa dissolved DSIEC

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa through the State House of Assembly has dissolved the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC). The DSIEC whose statutory tenure was five years, which was expected to expire in June/July 2018.

A reliable source inside the government house told XCLUSIVE MAGAZINE Okowa did not trust DSIEC as it was constituted by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, and needed to dissolve it in order to have his way ahead of 2019 governorship elections

The insider source further revealed that Okowa’s led administration was entertaining fear that the DSIEC Chairman and Members are loyal to Uduaghan, would dance to the tune of their master (Uduaghan) during the forthcoming local government election.

XCLUSIVE MAGAZINE also gathered that Okowa had already concluded and perfected plans to impose his loyalists as Chairmen across the 25 local government area of the state that will deliver him in 2019 governorship elections.

Following this fear of the unknown, Okowa sent a bill to the house on Tuesday to repeal a law of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission2012, titled, ‘Delta State Electoral Law, 2017’.

The dissolution as planned followed a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance by the majority leader of the house and Gov Okowa’s right hand man, Hon Tim Owhefere, seconded by Hon Samuel Mariere, Ughelli North I and was unanimously adopted.

Hon Owhefere in the motion said the dissolution was due to the exigencies of the fast improving democracy of Delta State and the constant dynamic of electoral and electioneering processes.

The Majority Leader said his motion was in line with Section 7 Subsection 1 of the laws setting up the commission hinged due to visible defects and short comings in the state’s electoral processes.

Mr. Owhefere said the dissolution would enable the state achieve a better electoral process as well as a better legal definition.

According to him, “The topic before us this morning is a very sensitive one. Mr. Speaker, I want to first of all thank our brothers who have served or who are still serving in the board we seek to dissolve today, because we have a saying that there is no perfect situation. So whatever level they have served, they have done their bid and contributed their quota to the growth of democracy in Delta State.”

But member representing Warri South II Constituency, Hon Dennis Omovie opposed the motion by saying that constitutional requirement to dissolve the DSIEC board has to follow due process.

After which, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Sherif Oborevwori immediately directed the Clerk of the house to provide a teller in order to collate the votes and signatures of the members in view of the peculiar nature of the motion before the house.

The members in a single file approached the Clerk’s table to append their signatures against their names for or against the dissolution of the DSIEC board.

Announcing the result of the voting, the Clerk of the house, Mrs Lyna Ocholor said 20 members voted for the dissolution, eight members were absent and nobody voted against.

The Speaker, thereafter, called on the governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to dissolve the commission with immediate effect in line with the requirement of two third majority votes hereby call.

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