The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission DSIEC in 2020 embarked on the creation of additional political wards in the state ahead of the March 6, 2020 local government polls.
In this special report, correspondent Omonigho Edaah takes a look at the implications of the new development in the state.
The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission DSIEC, is the electoral body saddled with the responsibility of conducting local government elections in the State
Last year, the state electoral umpire left no one in doubt as to its readiness to conduct local govt elections in the 25 LGAs since the tenure of council chairmen and that of councilors were to terminate on the 6th of January.
chairman of DSIEC, Chief Mike Ogbodu, had on December 1, 2020 at a meeting with political stakeholders in Asaba, the state capital, announced March 6 2021 as the new date for the conduct of the local government elections in the state shortly after the budget for the exercise was approved by the state legislature.
However, In preparation for the 2021 council polls, DSIEC created additional thirty four new wards in the state thus bringing the total number of DSIEC wards in the state to five hundred.
New wards are usually created due to growth in population and urbanization to ensure effective representation at the local govt legislative houses.
Observers who spoke to DRTV News on the ward creation commended DSIEC and advised the electoral body to ensure that the ward creation cuts across the entire state and should not tilt the political scale to the advantage of some local governments areas to favor some political class.
They noted that announcement of the additional DSIEC wards sparked protests from some parts of the state, and called on the electoral body to revisit the exercise.
They however expressed worry that the creation of more wards will increase the number of councilors and its attendant wage increase in some local govt areas who barely pay salaries even at a time when the LGAs are faced with dwindling finances in the face of the covid19 pandemic.
Delineation of wards are statutory responsibilities of electoral bodies as provided for by the 1999 Constitution as altered and existing state legislations.
It is also believed that following the creation of additional wards in the state by DSIEC, INEC is expected to create or restore state constituencies recognized by relevant laws at the state house of Assembly to engender participatory democracy
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