Niger Delta

Complaints Trail Voters’ Registration In Delta

Published

15 years ago

January 21, 2011

The people of Delta State have joined in the nationwide laments over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s inadequate Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines, incompetent ad-hoc staff and time-consuming finger print scanners for the ongoing voter registration exercise.

In Asaba, Delta State capital, series of complains have trailed the exercise as INEC ad-hoc National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members clamour for better equipment while potential voters are requesting for more registration centres and workforce.

At Uzoigwe Primary School in Asaba, the INEC ad-hoc officials had problems with the scanners and printers, which takes more than 10 to 15 minutes to register an individual .Consequently, people complain against the concentration of over six DDC machines in one venue despite the opening of several schools for the exercise.”

The major problem we encounter here is that of thumb printing.

The scanner does not pick fingerprints on time and it has caused much delay, depending on the person’s finger. Some take up to 40 minutes to pick”, complained Juliet Orji, an ad-hoc worker.

According to Tony Young Ebifade, “Some of the shortcomings of the exercise are shortage of DDC machines, poor performance of the scanners, power packs and inadequate registration centres”.

At Okpanam, in Oshimili North Local Government Area, a politician, Mr. Friday Jebosa alleged that “despite the very impressive turn-out of prospective voters, only four persons were registered at Unit 4 between 07am and 12 noon when the DDC machine finally packed up. We waited till 05pm when they closed.

“INEC should urently release more DDC machines and personnel to Okpanam as a result of this exercise. As large as this community, INEC provided only two DDC machine which are quite inadequate”, he said.

The delay, according to dependable Government House source, has made it difficult for the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to register and regain his franchise ahead of the forthcoming general election as Governorship flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It had been the same thing in the three Warri Local Government Areas of Delta State (Warri Federal constituency), as eligible voters could not register following the delay in the commencement of the exercise in the areas.

At Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area, INEC officials and equipment did not show up, thereby causing worry among the people.

A resident in Koko complained that, “Warri North had 38,708 during the re-run election, Warri South (58,984) and Warri South West (56,458). Over 154,150 of our people are going to be disenfranchised if care is not taken”.

The Warri Federal Constituency’s representatives at the House of Representatives, Mr Daniel Reyenieju, said the delay in the commencement of the exercise in his constituency despite the large turn out by the people, has created fear among eligible voters over disenfranchisement ahead of the April, 2011 general elections.

”I am aghast as to why INEC has refused to effect commencement of voter’s registration in Warri Federal constituency. Could this be a ploy for an orchestrated end of ominous dimension against the prospective electorates of this constituency?” Reyenieju” questioned.

Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, who led protesters numbering over 100 to the Warri INEC office, called on INEC to add additional three days extension to the three Warri councils to make up for the three days already lost.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.