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From Joseph Obukata, Warri
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has taken the first step towards the implementation of the Supreme Court ordered delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, comprising, the ethnic nationalities of the Itsekiris, Ijaws and Urhobos in Warri South, Warri South West and Warri North local government areas.
Already, stakeholders representing, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities have come out with a seven-points resolution ahead of the exercise after an enlarged meeting with INEC representatives including the supervising Hon. National Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo States, as well as Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren among others.
The meeting held in Asaba, the state capital last week, was the first step in the ongoing conversation on the implementation of the Supreme Court ordered delineation of Warri Federal Constituency.
Addressing the stakeholders, which included the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor as well as member of the House of Representative, Warri Federal Constituency, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, expressed delight over the brotherly spirit, understanding and love exhibited by stakeholders particularly, not allowing the expectations from the different ethnic nationalities on the Supreme Court judgement to disrupt electoral activities, in that part of the state till now.
According to him, “this stakeholders meeting, brings together all shades of opinion and groups, different from previous meetings, where only few persons led discussions on the conversation at the various stages of litigations, culminating in the Supreme Court judgment delivered on 2nd December, 2022”.
He noted that the deliberations, going by the high powered team, led by the Supervising Hon. Nat. Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo States, also amplified the commitment of the Commission to implement the Supreme Court judgement.
The REC said that the Commission was hopeful that, “at the end of today’s meeting, the building block of peaceful resolution of all grey areas, towards implementation of the Judgement would have been laid”.
After much deliberations the meeting resolved as follows; “The delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency will be done in accordance with the Supreme Court judgement of 2nd December, 2022, guidelines, Electoral Act 2022 and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The Commission with this meeting is ready to go to the field to conduct the delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.
“All Representatives of the different Ethnic Nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency should present a written document on their areas of settlement to INEC within one month from the date of this meeting.
“The three Ethnic Nationalities through their traditional rulers should go round to sensitize their subjects on the forth coming field delineation exercise.
“The Representatives of the three (3) Ethnic Nationalities through their Traditional Rulers gave their assurance to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of INEC officials that would be deployed to their areas for ground trotting and delineation exercise.
“The three Ethnic Nationalities shall assist and cooperate with the Commission during the conduct of the field delineation exercise.
“The Commission will communicate through the contact/focal person the commencement date of the field work and any other development”.
Recalls that the Supreme Court had in December 2022, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh delineation of electoral wards and units in Warri South West, Warri South and Warri North LGAs of Delta State.
The development stemmed from an appeal filed by Hon. George Timinimi and nine others against INEC in the appeal marked SC/413/2016.
The appeal followed the judgement of the Federal High Court, Asaba on March 28, 2011 dismissing the suit brought by Timinimi against INEC for themselves and on behalf of the Ijaws of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.
The dismissal was upheld by the Court of Appeal in Benin, which forced Taminimi’s counsel, Eric Omare Esq, to approach the Supreme Court which granted the prayers in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, who relied on Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to direct the fresh delineation.
