The proposed decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to delineate wards in the Warri federal constituency has met strong opposition from the leadership of the Omadino Community in the Warri South local government area of Delta State, who noted that it was an attempt to legalise illegality.
This was made known in a press conference by the leaders and members of Omadino at the Nenuwa Hall, Omadino, Warri South local government area of Delta State chaired by the Chief Priest of Omadino, Mr Rowland Yomere.
According to him, the Supreme Court of Nigeria 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 the 3 LGAS 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.”
He stressed that, ” There is no where in the said supreme Court Order of 2022 that empowered 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”.
According to him, the Supreme Court never ordered INEC to embark on boundary adjustments or creation of communities where they never existed, even over territories that have been litigated over as the proposal has revealed the deliberate yanking of Polling Units and territories adjudicated to be Itsekiri lands, and creating and crediting wards within same to placate other ethnic groups.
He said Polling Units within Omadino territories, particularly those in Ukpokiti and Oteghele, were systematically yanked from Obodo/Omadino Ward and credited to faraway Ogunu/Ekurede Urhobo Ward in Warri Urban, all in a bid to bring their lands outside their political influence.
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