Councillorship candidate dies in Delta weeks to LG election

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

Identified as Hon Jumi Odaji, he was seeking a second term to represent Bowen Ward 20 (Agbassa & Alders Town) in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State in the upcoming July 13 local government election.

He passed away on Thursday night, and the cause of his death is unknown at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, some prominent Deltans have instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Asaba, praying the court to stop the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) from conducting the July 13 local government election in some council areas.

They are Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Arc Sylvester Adowei, Emmanuel Igetei, and Midwest Kukuru Esq., maintaining that the election should not hold in Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas.

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The plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and “the Ijaw people of the three LGAs of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State,” in suit no: FHC/ASB/CS/87/2024, demanded 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.”