INEC, stakeholders meet on implementation of S’Court order on delineation of Warri Federal Constituency

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken the step towards implementing the Supreme Court order for the delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency, in Delta State.

 

 

 

 

The constituency comprises the Itsekiris, Ijaws, and Urhobos ethnic nationalities in the Warri South, Warri South West, and Warri North local government areas.

 

 

 

 

 

Stakeholders, representing the ethnic groups, had come together and reached a seven-point resolution in preparation for the implementation process.

 

 

 

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The stakeholders, including 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, INEC representatives and officials such as the supervising Hon. National Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Edo States, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, as well as the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir. Etekamba Udo Umoren, held an enlarged meeting, in Asaba, the state capital, to discuss the way forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the meeting, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umoren expressed satisfaction with the unity and understanding demonstrated by the stakeholders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He commended the stakeholders for not allowing their differing expectations from the Supreme Court judgment to disrupt electoral activities in the areas.

 

 

 

 

The meeting which presided over by Prof. Gumus, served as an opportunity for all shades of opinion and groups to engage in discussions regarding the Supreme Court order and its implementation.

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking, the Delta State REC said, “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”.

 

 

 

 

 

Udo Umoren, stressed the commitment of INEC to carry out the Supreme Court judgment and expressed hope that the meeting would lay the foundation for a peaceful resolution of any uncertainties surrounding the implementation process.

 

 

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After thorough deliberations, the meeting concluded with several resolutions which include conducting the delineation exercise in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment, guidelines, Electoral Act 2022, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

 

 

 

 

 

The representatives of the different ethnic nationalities were also requested to submit written documents on their areas of settlement to INEC within one month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, the traditional rulers of the three ethnic groups were tasked with sensitizing their subjects about the upcoming delineation exercise as well as gave assurance to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of INEC officials that would be deployed to their areas for ground trotting and delineation exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

The stakeholders assured INEC of their support and cooperation during the fieldwork.

 

 

 

 

 

INEC will communicate the commencement date of the fieldwork and any other relevant developments through the designated contact person.

 

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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. The Supreme Court in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, relied on Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to direct the fresh delineation, overturning the previous decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.