Delta Councillorship Candidate Dies Weeks Before Local Government Election

Barely two weeks before the local government council elections in Delta State, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillorship candidate has passed away.

Hon. Jumi Odaji, who was seeking a second term to represent Bowen Ward 20 (Agbassa & Alders Town) in Warri South Local Government Area, died on Thursday night. The cause of his death is unknown at the time of this report.

Meanwhile, some prominent Deltans have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Asaba, seeking to halt the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) from conducting the July 13 local government election in certain council areas.

The plaintiffs, Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Arc Sylvester Adowei, Emmanuel Igetei, and Midwest Kukuru Esq., argue that the election should not proceed in Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas. Representing themselves and “the Ijaw people of the three LGAs of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State,” in suit no: FHC/ASB/CS/87/2024, they demand a declaration that: “The 2nd Defendant (DSIEC) cannot conduct council elections in the three councils of Delta State, without the 1st Defendant (INEC) establishing fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No. S/413/2016: HON. GEORGE U. TIMINIMI & 9 ORS v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022.”