The people of oil rich Ewuru town in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State trooped out in their thousands Monday to protest the exclusion of the name of the community from the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and the Electoral Register.
They also accused politicians and their acolytes from the neighboring communities of plotting to destabilize the community.
Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters condemned the balkanization of the people into political units that places them in disadvantaged positions.
They called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega to correct the flaws in the Permanent Voters’ Card and Electoral Register.
Some of the placards read: “Are we now part of Isheagu” “Is Ewuru not in existence”
Secretary to His Royal Majesty, G. S. Onyeweuwa I, JP, Obi of Ewuru, Dege Chukwuka said His Royal Majesty would take up the issue with the state and federal authorities, saying there was no reason for such alleged ill-treatments against his community.
The monarch who was responding to youths, elders and women of the community when they protested to his palace stated that there was no reason whatsoever for the name of the community to be excluded from the electoral register and permanent voters cards.
He promised that he would take up the issue with the highest authorities in Nigeria and hoped that at the end of his meetings with those in authority, the situation would definitely change.
The monarch lamented the plot to marginalize and disenfranchise his people and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to save the situation.
He also commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration for its effort in developing the state, advised politicians, particularly those in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in his area to field only responsible and accountable individuals in the fourth coming local government elections.
“Political leaders should not work for those with selfish agenda. They should not field those working against the interest of the community” he advised.
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