UPDATED: BREAKING: Governor Okowa Dissolves State Electoral Commission

As reported earlier by BigPen Online, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has dissolved the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC.

Okowa, announced the dissolution of the board in a letter to the State House of Assembly read at planery on Thursday.

The approval of the dissolution followed a motion raised in the House in accordance with section 7 subsections 1 of the law establishing the board.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori presided over the dissolution done during plenary on Thursday.

BigPen Online had exclusively  reported that Okowa had made moves to allegedly ‘lay off’ the board apparently because he has lost confidence on the members who were appointed by his predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Tim Owhefere, moved motion for the dissolution, citing matters of urgent public importance.

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The motion was seconded by Hon. Samuel Mariere, Ughelli North I and was unanimously adopted.

Moving the motion, Owhefere said: “due to the exigencies of the nations fast moving democracy, the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission be now dissolved in line with section 7, sub section 1 of the DSIEC law 2012”.

According to him, the noticeable defects and shortcomings in the electoral process as a result of the law establishing the commission which is currently before the House for amendment led to the decision to dissolved the board.

He explained that the dissolution will enable the house work on proposed new DSIEC law that would enhance the electoral process in the state.

Also contributing, the member representing Warri South II Constituency, Dennis Omovie said the constitutional requirement to dissolve the DSIEC board is two third Majority and stressed the need for due process to be followed.

Following the contributions of members, the Speaker, Oborevwori called for voting by members who immediately approached the Clerk’s table to append their signatures against their names for or against the dissolution of the DSIEC board.

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Announcing the result of the voting the Clerk Barrister Lyna Ocholor said twenty members voted for the dissolution while eight member were absent and nobody voted against.

The Speaker said in line with Section 7 sub section 1 of the law setting up DSIEC the board now stand dissolved having fulfilled the two third requirement by the House for the dissolution.

However, like taking medicine after death, he called on the State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to immediately dissolve the DSIEC board.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has transmit an executive bill to amend the Delta State Local Government Law of 2013.

The executive bill was contained in a letter to the House by Governor Okowa and read by the Speaker Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori.

According to the letter the sections to be amended are sections 96 to 138 and 140
of the Delta State Local Government Law of 2013.

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The Majority Leader, Owhefere moved for the House to receive the letter for further consideration and was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Oboro Preyor and was immediately adopted.

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