5 Seek Court Order To Stop Elections Into 3 Delta LGAs

Five Delta State citizens have approached the Federal High Court in Asaba, praying for an order to stop the state’s Independent Electoral Commission from conducting the July 13, 2024 local government election in three local government areas.

The plaintiffs which include Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Arc Sylvester Adowei, Emmanuel Igetei and Midwest Kukuru Esq, maintained that the election should not hold in Warri South, Warri South-west and Warri North local government areas of the state.

In the suit in on behalf of themselves and “the Ijaw people of the three LGAs of Warri federal constituency of Delta state” in suit no: FHC/ASB/CS/87/2024, the plaintiffs demanded a declaration that, “The 2nd Defendant (DSIEC) cannot conduct council elections in the three councils of Delta state, without the 1st Defendant (INEC) establishing fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal NO. S/413/2016: Hon. George U. Timinimi & 9 Ors v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022.

They also prayed the court to order, “A Declaration that the 1st Defendant (INEC) cannot release its register of voters of polling units in the three council of Delta state to the 2nd Defendant (DSIEC) to conduct local government council elections in the aforementioned local government councils, without first establishing fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No. S/413/2016; Hon. George U. Timinimi & 9 Ors v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022.

“A Declaration that any election conducted by the 2nd Defendant to the positions of Chairmen of Council and Ward Councilors in the three councils of Delta State without the 1st Defendant (INEC) establishing fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No. S/413/2016: Hon. George U. Timinimi & 9 Ors v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022 is null and void and of no effect.”

Whilst also seeking, “An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1 Defendant from releasing register of voters of polling units in the three council areas of Delta state to the 2nd Defendant to conduct local government council elections until the conclusion of fresh delineation of polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No. S/413/2016: Hon. George U. Timinimi & 9 Ors v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022,”

The plaintiffs further made a request for “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant from conducting local government council elections in the three council areas of Delta state until the 1st Defendant conclude the delineation of fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No. S/413/2016: Hon. George U. Timinimi & 9 Ors v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022.”

The submitted that the court may deem it fit to also make “any other legal or equitable remedy” in the circumstances.