PDP Sweeps All 24 Local Government Chairmanship Seats in Delta State

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious in the council elections held on July 13 across the 24 local government areas of Delta State. The results were announced on Sunday at the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) headquarters in Asaba.

Dr. Jerry Agbaike, DSIEC Chairman, declared PDP candidates winners in all local governments, except for one electoral ward in Oshimili South where the Allied People’s Movement (APM) secured victory.

However, Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central senatorial district, criticized the election as a mere coronation of PDP-nominated candidates. He accused DSIEC of acting under the directive of the state Governor, alleging that figures were allocated arbitrarily to candidates in a flawed process.

Dafinone condemned the elections as a mockery of democratic standards, citing concerns over the manipulation of DSIEC by state governors to stifle grassroots participation in the electoral process. He called for constitutional amendments to ensure local governments’ autonomy and fair elections, pointing to recent Supreme Court rulings supporting financial autonomy for local governments.

The lawmaker lamented the withdrawal of many All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates due to doubts about DSIEC’s impartiality, labeling the process in Delta State as undemocratic and deeply flawed.

“It’s regrettable how low our electoral standards have fallen after 25 years of democracy. What occurred in Delta State cannot be termed an election—it’s a charade that undermines democratic principles,” Dafinone asserted.

He urged bipartisan efforts to reform electoral laws and empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government elections nationwide, ensuring transparent and inclusive governance at the grassroots level.