The indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State on Monday, staged a peaceful protest over the delay in the implementation of the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation of Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), just as they condemned the alleged interference of the Presidency in the matter.
Key Highlights:
- Protesters in Delta State demanded implementation of a Supreme Court ruling on Warri constituency delineation.
- They urged Independent National Electoral Commission to act independently without interference.
- They accused the Presidency and security agencies of meddling in the process.
- They insisted the rule of law and court order must be followed.
- They want new constituencies activated for upcoming elections.
The protest was led by Ijaw and Urhobo leaders in Warri South Local Government Area.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions, such as”FG allow INEC to do its work”,”DSS stay away from Warri Federal Constituency delineation”,”First lady, you are biased,” and “INEC respect the rule of law.”
Spokesman of the protesters, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said the interference by the Presidency in the delineation exercise, is an attack on the 1999 Constitution which the president swore to observe and protect.
He alerted that by Section 161 of the 1999 Constitution, INEC is independent in the performance of its duties and the Presidency has no power whatsoever to direct INEC.
Furthermore, the spokesperson added that by Section 287 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, the judgment of the Supreme Court is final and all organs and agencies of government have a constitutional duty to implement the orders of the Supreme Court without delay or hesitation.
“We wish to alert the Nigerian people and the international community that, the interference by the Presidency in the implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court is an attack on the rule of law and democracy in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general,” High Chief Gbenekama said.
He insisted that the rule of law must prevail in the matter, saying that “the threat to national security being alleged by the office of the national security adviser to stop the immediate implementation of the fresh delineation is only a subterfuge by the Presidency to alter the final report of the delineation to favour the Itsekiri ethnic group.
“If anybody or group is threatening the peace of Warri as a result of the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment, the office of the NSA should go after such a person and not disrespect the Supreme Court order.”
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The Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri called on INEC to comply with the dictates of the rule of law, to direct political parties to conduct primaries to nominate candidates for the newly created state constituencies in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas.
“The Ijaw people of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area who the new state constituency was created for after more than a century of political oppression and suppression are eager to elect political party candidates to participate in the 2027 general elections into the Delta State House of Assembly.
“If the Itsekiris are not ready to participate in the election of persons into the new state constituency in Warri South-West, the Ijaws are ready and should be allowed to participate in the election based on the newly created constituencies and fresh delineation of registration areas and polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court,” High Chief Gbenekama added.
