Ijaw, Urhobo groups protest delay in Warri constituency delineation

Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo communities in Delta State on Monday staged a peaceful protest over the delayed implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

The protesters, led by Ijaw and Urhobo leaders, gathered at Ogbe-Ijoh Market in Warri South Local Government Area, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “FG, allow INEC to do its work,” “DSS, stay away from Warri Federal Constituency delineation,” “INEC, respect the rule of law,” and “No allocation of wards and units.”

 

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Godspower Gbenekama, accused the Presidency of interfering in a matter they said falls exclusively within INEC’s constitutional powers.

 

According to the protesters, Section 161 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees INEC’s independence and shields the commission from external control.

 

“By Section 161 of the 1999 Constitution, INEC is independent in the performance of its duties and the Presidency has no power whatsoever to direct INEC. The Constitution clearly states that INEC shall not be subject to the direction and control of the President,” they stated.

 

The protesters also cited Section 287(2) of the Constitution, arguing that all government institutions are bound to implement Supreme Court judgments.

 

They maintained that the Supreme Court’s decision in SC/413/2016: George Timinimi & Others v. INEC is final and should be implemented without delay.

 

“We wish to alert the Nigerian people and the international community that interference in the implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court is an attack on the rule of law and democracy in the Warri Federal Constituency and Nigeria as a whole,” they said.

 

The groups further rejected claims that security concerns necessitated a delay in implementing the delineation exercise.

 

They alleged that references to potential security threats were being used as a pretext to alter the final delineation report in favour of the Itsekiri ethnic group.

 

“The threat to national security being alleged by the Office of the National Security Adviser is only a subterfuge to stop the immediate implementation of the fresh delineation and alter the final report to favour the Itsekiri ethnic group,” they said.

 

The protesters insisted that individuals or groups threatening peace should be dealt with directly by security agencies, rather than allowing such concerns to obstruct compliance with a Supreme Court ruling.

 

They also argued that the newly created state constituency in Warri North Local Government Area would provide long-awaited political representation for the Ijaw people of Egbema Kingdom.

 

“The Ijaw people are eager to elect representatives in the 2027 general elections and should be allowed to participate based on the newly created constituencies and fresh delineation of registration areas and polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court,” the protesters added.

 

Several Urhobo and Ijaw leaders, including Femi Okumagba, John Edgar Eranvor and Dembo Oweikpodor, also expressed support for the position advanced during the protest.