Delineation Attempt To Support Illegality In Warri – Community Leaders

The decision by INEC to delineate wards in Warri Federal Constituency has been rejected by the leadership of Omadino Community in Warri South local government area of Delta State who described it as an attempt to legalise illegality.

This was made known at a press conference by the leaders and members of Omadino led by the chief priest of Omadino,Mr Rowland Yomere.

According to him, the Supreme Court gave an order in 2022 compelling INEC to embark on a fresh delineation of all the electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency comprising three LGs of Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West LGAs of Delta State.

Yomere said, “It will interest you to note that for over 21 years, beginning from 2003, there was the judgment in Suit No. FHC/B/109/97 Dr. Joseph Otumara & 8 Ors. v. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) & 4 Ors in favour of the Itsekiri people on the Ward structure and number in Warri South Local Government Area which said judgment declared 12 Wards illegal and 10 Wards legal, and up till this moment, INEC never implemented that judgment”

“There is no where in the said Supreme Court order of 2022 that empowers INEC to disregard previous court orders or judgements granted by courts of competent jurisdictions, and INEC should therefore not be seen to be selective in the implementation of court orders, some of which were even directed at same INEC.”

“We therefore fault the procedures adopted by INEC in its entirety, and call on President Bola Tinubu and all other relevant authorities to call INEC to order.”