Labour Party Demands Cancellation of Aniocha South Council Polls in Delta State
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Delta State, Nigeria, the Labour Party (LP) has filed a petition at the Delta State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal in Asaba, calling for the cancellation of the recently concluded council polls in Aniocha South Local Government Area.
The party’s decision to petition the tribunal comes after it was not satisfied with the outcome of the polls, which saw Jude Chukwunweike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared the winner. LP is alleging that the election did not meet the required standards, citing "substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the electoral act" as the basis for its petition.
According to the party, the election did not take place in nearly all the wards in Aniocha South, leaving thousands of eligible voters unable to exercise their franchise due to the absence of voting materials at their units. Additionally, LP has alleged that none of its agents signed the purported result sheets that were allegedly falsified by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) to declare the PDP candidate as the winner.
LP has named DSIEC, Jude Chukwunweike, and PDP as the first, second, and third respondents, respectively, in its petition. The party is seeking the cancellation of the election results and a fresh poll in the affected areas.
The development has sparked controversy in the state, with many political observers keenly watching the unfolding drama. The Labour Party’s decision to take legal action against the election results has sent a strong signal that it will not take the alleged irregularities lying down.
The outcome of the petition is yet to be determined, but one thing is clear: the political landscape of Delta State has been thrown into chaos, and only time will tell how the situation unfolds.
