Urhobo/Ijaw Urges INEC to Comply Fully with Court Judgement on Delineation of Warri Fed Constituency

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Indigenous Urhobo and Ijaw People of Warri Federal Constituency have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conclude the ward delineation exercise embarked upon in the last five months.
The two ethnic groups, at a joint world press conference in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, warned they would not allow any future elections in the constituency until the delineation exercise was carried out.
Olorogun Victor Okumagba, an Urhobo Chief, who read the press statement on behalf of others, advised INEC not to allow other institutions influence its decision but should stamped its feet on the commission’s independence.
They maintained that the Supreme Court Judgement ordering it to delineate fresh wards and units in Warri confirmed the hitherto existing wards were flawed and does not satisfy statutory requirement for credible future elections.
“That in the Supreme Court ordered judgement on INEC, the operative words are to “conduct fresh delineation” in the eyes of the law, there are no longer in existence electoral wards and units in Warri until the fresh exercise is concluded.
“That it is criminal, illegal and contemptuous of the Supreme Court judgement by INEC, proceeding with the registration of voters in Warri Federal Constituency as there are no longer in existence electoral wards and units upon which the ongoing voter’s registration can stand”, they said.
The Indigenous Urhobo and Ijaw people therefore called on INEC to immediately release and implement the report painstakingly embarked upon by stakeholders.
“We shall not idly standby and watch our democratic rights and franchise frittered away by INEC’s lawlessness and disastrous irresponsibility. A stich in time saves nine”, they warned.
They further contended that previous elections have always been against them, as a result of the injustice done to them through wrong ward delineation, adding that now the Supreme Court has done the right thing, INEC and its collaborators should not do anything capable of bringing uneasy situation in the federal constituency.
“We will not take anything that will disenfranchise them this time, adding “enough of the cheating”.
They expressed bitterness that INEC is being teleguided, stressing that what they are doing now is criminal that should be condemned by all and sundry.
According to them “There is no way INEC can conduct any election until they comply in full the judgment of the Supreme Court.
An Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama warned on the consequences of INEC’s failure to comply with the Supreme Court ordered judgement noting that the two ethnic groups were capable of bringing the nation on its knees.
He wondered why the commission was finding it difficult to release the final copy of ward delineation exercise carried out sometime in February this year.
The Gbaramatu Chief advised INEC not to relinquish its independence to another institution for the purpose of manipulating the outcome of the Warri Federal Constituency delineation exercise.