By Emma Amaize
WARRI- THERE was a dangerous twist to the political machinations in Delta North Senatorial District, Delta State, in respect of last Saturday’s National Assembly polls, as the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, candidate, Hon Ned Nwoko, stormed the Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Asaba, Monday  night, insisting that he should be allowed to make a live broadcast, declaring himself the winner of the election.

The returning officer for Delta North, Prof Ebele Egwunyenga had late on Sunday declared the PDP senatorial candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa winner of the election at the INEC office in Asaba.

But the returning officer for Ika North East local government in the senatorial district emerged yesterday, at Asaba and told the police that he was forced at gun point to add about 20,000 votes to the final tally of the PDP, which made the party to win the election.

He said he was abducted by thugs and compelled to sign a prepared result sheet under duress.

Based on the confession of the electoral officer, Hon. Nwoko declared himself as winner, but decided to let Deltans know through the DBS, Asaba, since INEC authorities in Asaba were not prepared to upturn the result even after the alleged confession by the electoral officer.

A staff of the DBS, who called Vanguard on phone , last night, from Asaba, said in a panic-stricken tone that Ned Nwoko has taken over DBS, Asaba with his men.

“All the workers in the station have been held hostage, they cannot go in and they cannot go out, the gate is under lock and key. I was driving to the office when a call came that I should not come to the area at all because the workers were under hostage.

“I was told that Nwoko is insisting that the station should make the correct announcement that he won the election based on confession made by the electoral officer that he was forced to add 20,000 votes to the PDP and that he also wants to make a live broadcast”, he said.

As at 9.00 pm, last night, it was learnt that the Delta state police command had been contacted and that men were being deployed to dislodge Nwoko from the station.

But when Vanguard contacted the Delta state police spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka at about 9.15 pm, he said, “I heard now that he has left there”