By Emma Amaize & Emma Arubi
THOUSANDS of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, supporters staged a peaceful protest at Asaba, the capital of Delta State, Thursday, soon after Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was declared winner of Tuesday’s governorship election.

However, residents of Warri, Effurun, Ughelli, Ogbe-Ijoh and Sapele, Thursday, defied heavy rainfall to celebrate the victory of Uduaghan.

But reacting to the protest, the Delta State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chief Paulinus Akpeki urged Chief Great Ogboru’s supporters to accept defeat in good fate.

He said the law was clear on what to do if Chief Ogboru was dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, adding, “PDP supporters are celebrating their victory.”

The protesters marched from Government House axis down Ogbegonogo Market area and other parts of Asaba, chanting war songs with leaves. They called for the cancellation of the results of the poll.

Policemen, however, took position at strategic parts of the town to prevent the protesters from turning violent.

The protesters, mainly youths, mobilised for the purpose by the leadership of the DPP, which anticipated that Uduaghan would be declared the winner, were joined by market women.

In Warri, Effurun, Ughelli, Ogbe-Ijoh and Sapele, thousands of PDP supporters as well as the party’s sympathizers stormed the major streets singing and dancing while convoy blaring vehicles drove round the major roads in celebration of the party’s victory.

According to Ijaw leader from Egbema and PDP chieftain in the state, Chief J. Taylor, “We have to celebrate because each time the PDP defeats the DPP, the party cries foul, alleging rigging. This time there was no room for it to complain considering the outcome of the result which shows that it was keenly contested.”

Similarly, Itsekiri youth leader, Mr. Omolubi Newuwumi from Sapele axis said “the wild jubilation was noticed in the PDP stronghold only while there was mixed feelings in the DPP catchment areas dominated by the Urhobos.”

Meanwhile, calm had returned to Asaba at about 3.00 p.m., after supporters of the DPP, protested the loss of Tuesday’s governorship election by their candidate, Chief Ogboru.

Some of the residents were scared that the protest would degenerate to something bloody.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/protest-rocks-asaba-as-itsekiri-ijaw-people-celebrate-uduaghans-victory/