Oborevwori backs LG autonomy, says N14bn councils fund intact

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori on Saturday declared his support for local governments’ financial autonomy as ruled by the Supreme  Court on Thursday.

This is as he said the N14 billion fund accruing to the 25 local councils in the state for the past three months is intact and in the custody of the government waiting for the incoming elected council chairmen to take over.

Oborevwori made the disclosure while speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote during the local government election at his Osubi community Ward polling centre of Okpe LGA in the state.

He said, “On the issue of the Supreme Court judgment, it does not affect Delta State because in Delta State we don’t tamper with Local Government money.  

“As we speak, the money for the past three months is still there. Almost N14 billion is still there waiting for the Chairmen to take over.

“So, we don’t touch government money, we augment. So whether the Supreme Court said they should have autonomy, I believe in financial autonomy. 

“As a former Speaker, we were at the forefront of the issue of financial autonomy for the Legislature and for the Judiciary. 

“The judgment does not affect Delta State, so we still believe in it.”

Oborevwori described the Delta local government elections as “peaceful, free and fair” while assuring that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party

would emerge victorious.

According to him, the election was a “litmus test to show that we (his administration) are on course with the MORE agenda.”

He said further, “When we did our grand finale, I promised Deltans that we want a free and fair election. That is what we are doing now. Right from time my local government has been doing free and fair and that is what we are replicating here.

“I came through that same process of a free and fair election and with all the opposition, I won with a very high margin.

“So I am assuring Deltans that this election is free and fair. I have been up since monitoring the process and now l am here to cast my vote. I have cast my vote and we are sure that there will be victory for the PDP by the grace of God.”

He added, “Then on the issue of the same court judgment, the Supreme Court has given judgment but you can see that we believe in that same process. That is why when I came in.”

“I did not constitute a transition Committee. I am not in support of the transition Committee the HPMs are the ones handling the place and they were given three months to enable us to do the election today. 

“By early next week, those who won will be sworn in by the grace of God.”.

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has accused Delta State Independent Electoral Commission of non-release of sensitive materials, including result sheets and ballot papers, for the local government council elections held on Saturday.

Speaking with newsmen in Emede, Isoko South, Delta State, Senator Joel-Onowakpo accused DSIEC of colluding with the ruling PDP in the State to deny citizens their fundamental right to vote, thus rendering the election invalid.

The Senator alleged that the PDP, aware of the All Progressives Congress’s readiness to take over local government affairs, conspired with DSIEC to manipulate the electoral process.

“Democracy worldwide is about the will of the people, but DSIEC and the PDP have conspired to deny citizens their right to elect local government leaders. This is undemocratic and unacceptable,” the senator alleged, just as he emphasized that “the non-release of sensitive materials constitutes electoral fraud and compromises the election’s integrity.”

He stressed the need for a constitutional amendment to transfer the power to constitute state electoral commissions from state governors to the Independent National Electoral Commission.