Journalists covering the ongoing Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election in Isoko South Constituency 1 were locked out by the State Commissioner for Youth Development on Sunday , Ifeanyi Egwunyega.
Trouble started around 9 a.m. when Adhoc delegates were accredited and called to the Oleh Township Stadium in the state’s Isoko South Local Government Area, the venue for the primary.
Seeing reporters, Egwunyega, who is Asaba’s primary election team leader, hurried out looking worried.
He then began to issue orders, giving directives prohibiting journalists from visiting the scene. He said they weren’t invited and as such shouldn’t be allowed to do anything.
Egwunyega, who had previously been accused of dating one of the candidates before the elections, noted that “journalists have always been an obstacle in the wheel of progress and should come out”.
The divisional police officer in charge of the local government council, Paul Oboware and his men offered themselves as willing tools to carry out the commissioner’s directive.
They quickly started harassing journalists.
As the harassment continued, the personal assistant to the chairman of Isoko South local government, Moses Ovedhe, assaulted one of the journalists, Amour Udemude.
At that time, it was decided that the journalists should stay and observe the process.
Binno Obowomano of Irri Ward 10 was declared the winner, beating his opponents, including the outgoing House of Assembly legislator representing Isoko South Ward 1.
