Leaders of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency have warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against altering or suppressing the outcome of the recently concluded delineation exercise.
The two groups insisted that the final report must be released and implemented in line with the Supreme Court judgment.
At a world press conference held Monday at KFT Place, Ugboroke, Uvwie Local Government Area, the groups accused INEC of “deliberately delaying” the publication of the final report, five months after the draft was presented to stakeholders for proofreading.
Reading from the joint statement, Olorogun Victor Okumagba of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom declared: “We shall not idly standby and watch our democratic rights and franchise fretted away by INEC’s lawlessness and disastrous irresponsibility.
“A stitch in time saves nine. The Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation, and INEC painstakingly carried out the process with all stakeholders. Any attempt to circumvent that outcome will be resisted.”
The statement, endorsed by prominent leaders from both ethnic groups, stressed that once the Supreme Court nullified the old wards and units, “there are no longer in existence electoral wards and units in Warri until the fresh exercise is concluded.”
They therefore described the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the constituency as “criminal, illegal and contemptuous of the Supreme Court judgement.”
Read also:
- Renewed ethnic tension in Warri as Itsekiri, Urhobo youths clash amid coronation celebrations
- Urhobos not second-class citizens in Nigeria — Senator Dafinone
- INEC presents Certificates of Return to By-Election winners in Kano
Citing the 1963 case of UAC vs McToy, the leaders added: “You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. INEC cannot conduct voter’s registration or election in Warri Federal Constituency until the Supreme Court judgement is fully complied with.”
The signatories, which included Hon. Deinbofa Oweikpodor, Dr Joel Bisina, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, Rev. Samuel Ako, Chief Emmanuel Sekondi, Amb. Jude Ebitimi Ukori, Chief Monday Keme, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Wilson Ogbodu, Chief Mrs Ann Gagiyovwi and others, vowed to resist “any external influence pressuring INEC to undermine the law.”
The Fiyewei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who also attended the briefing, issued a stern warning: “Failure to release the final report of the delineation exercise and its non-implementation could trigger crisis in the Niger Delta.
“We call on INEC to resist external forces and fully comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court.”
Women groups, youth organisations and traditional chiefs from both Ijaw and Urhobo communities were also present at the press conference, underscoring the collective resolve of the ethnic nationalities to defend the delineation outcome.
