A prominent Urhobo leader and grassroots politician, Olorogun Victor Okumagba has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done a good job over the ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, adding that nothing will change what INEC has done.
Chief Okumagba stated this while addressing newsmen, shortly after he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of ‘Idjede’ of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Warri by the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Ogheneochuko Egbobonyen.
Chief Okumagba further said that what INEC has done has brought equity and an end to the lopsidedness and political marginalization in the area.
He said that after 11 years of legal tussle over ward marginalization in Warri, the Supreme Court gave judgement mandating INEC to go back and conduct a fresh delineation.
The Okere Urhobo leader observed that INEC did their job without bias or favouritism, adding that what the electoral commission did is the true reflection of the political realities in the area.
He categorically stated that nothing will change what the Supreme Court has said and what INEC has done over the ward delineation in Warri, urging the Itsekiris and Ijaws to maintain the peace.
“We approached the court due to the wrong done to us by marginalizing us in ward allocation and waited for 11 years before judgment came.
“In 1996, political wards were created via fiat. That time of 1996 has passed. The Supreme Court said, INEC should go back to Warri and conduct a fresh delineation of wards.
“INEC came and did their job and all the tribes have equal representation. If the 1996 wards created were not reversed, this will not be reversed, I can assure you,” he declared.
Chief Okumagba accused the Itsekiris of inducing their people with monetary gratifications to create confusion and unwarranted tension.
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“INEC has given Warri South Local Government Area 20 wards constitutionally, and what we are going to do now is internal amendments and observations, corrections, like the misuse of names, and incorrect naming of units.
“We have corrected that within one week and sent them to INEC. If you watch my interview on Channel Television when Seun Okinbaloye brought up the question of possible reversal, I told him it is not possible.
“The issue of re-delineation is not possible. The Supreme Court told INEC to go to Warri and conduct proper fresh delineation, and they came. The issue of re-delineation is not possible and that will not happen,” Chief Okumagba added.
He stated that nobody was oppressed or cheated, stressing that INEC did their job as guided by the rule of law and without any lapses.
