Urhobo, Ijaw Tasks INEC to Complete Delineation Process in Warri Federal Constituency

BY ODEYA OGBETUO

        The indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo in Warri Federal Constituency have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to speedily complete the delineation process in Warri Federal Constituency before INEC Voters’ Registration commence in the area.

        Addressing newsmen and large turnout of Urhobos and Ijaws in Warri, Delta State, organized by the Ijaw and Urhobo people of the Warri Federal Constituency, Olorogun Victor Okumagba JP said that INEC should not waste time in completing the ward delineation process in Warri Federal Constituency and implement the wards and units exercise carried out by them as directed by Supreme Court judgment.

        Okumagba further said that voters’ registration won’t take place in Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West that make up the Warri Federal Constituency until INEC implements the report of the exercise carried out by them.

        He noted that the 1999 general elections that were conducted in the Warri Federal Constituency were skewed in favour of a minority group, adding that this political manipulation must stop.

        Chief Okumagba stated that previous Warri Delineation were designed to satisfy certain selfish interest and subsequent results were rejected, noting that failure of INEC to address these imbalances led to Warri Crises of 1997 to 1999 and 2002 to 2003 involving conflicts between Ijaw and Itsekiri in one hand, and Itsekiri and Urhobo on the other.

        “It is criminal, illegal and contemptuous of the Supreme Court judgment for INEC to proceed with the registration of voters in Warri Federal Constituency, as there is no longer the existence of electoral wards and units upon which the ongoing voter registration can stand. We the representatives of the Ijaw and Urhobo in Warri Federal Constituency have held a meeting with stakeholders and copies of the draft report were presented to all parties concerned. The Commission has yet to publish the final report; instead INEC has moved ahead to commence preparations for future elections.”

“INEC should immediately release and implement the report painstakingly embarked upon by stakeholders. We shall not idly standby and watch our democratic rights and franchise fretted away by INEC lawlessness.”