Shola Daibo emerges winner of Delta House of Assembly by-election

MRS Shola Daibo has emerged winner of Wednesday by-election to the Delta State House of Assembly.

The newly elected member representing Warri South Constituency 1 in the Delta House of Assembly replaces late Mrs Omawumi Udoh who died last December.

The result of the bye-election was declared by the Local Government Collation and Returning Officer of the Delta Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Mr Olatunbosun Odusanya.

Mrs Daibo, after her being declared winner late Wednesday, assured the people of good representation at the parliament.

She contested under the platform of the Accord Party (AP).

“I thank you all for believing in me and I promised that I will not disappoint you,” she said.

Announcing the result, we Mr Odunsanya said Mrs Daibo polled 5, 546 to defeat her close rivals Mr Stanley Emiko of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who scored 2,010 and Mr Ojere Edeyinbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who garnered 182 votes in the contest.

According to him, the total vote cast was 8,100 in the bye-election across the six Wards in the Warri South Constituency (One).

“Total registered voters in the constituency is 69537, accredited voters, 8,186, valid votes 7837, rejected votes 263 while the total votes cast is 8,100.

I hereby declare Daibo winner of the election having scored the highest number of votes,” he said.

Tribune Online had reported that in spite of heavy presence of security operatives, the exercise was marred with votes-buying, apathy and other electoral malpractices.

The bye-election was conducted following the death of Mrs Omawumi Udoh who was voted into power in 2015 general elections.

The lawmaker, it will be recalled, died on Dec 13, 2016 of a cancer-related ailment in the United Kingdom (UK) at the age of 56 while on active service.