by Jude Opara, Abuja
Itsekiri stakeholders under the aegis of the Concerned Itsekiri Leaders have charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to without further delay effect the delimitation/review of Warri Federal Constituency, in line with the ruling of the Supreme Court.
The Egogo of Warri Kingdom, Chief Robinson Ariyo declared this on behalf of the Leaders at the weekend during an International Press Conference held in Warri, Delta state.
Chief Ariyo said the conference was challenged by what he described as a “bizarrely swift and apparently impulsive reaction of INEC” to the 2022 Supreme Court judgement.
According to him, it was true that the Supreme Court had ordered the re-delineation of Wards in Warri Federal Constituency which comprised: Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas.
The Egogo of Warri Kingdom, however, said that careful perusal of the judgement revealed that the Supreme Court essentially only gave effect to the provisions of Section 114 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
While asking on the period of time within which INEC should review state constituencies, Ariyo responded that the Supreme Court called upon the provision of Section 114 (1) of the Constitution (Supra) 10 years.
“Has that time elapsed in the case of Warri Federal Constituency?
“By the facts, the time has elapsed and as such, it ordered the review of the state constituencies.
“The point must however be made that the lapse of time in this respect is not a preserve of Warri Federal Constituency but that of the entire Federation,” he stated.
However, Ariyo who is also a lawyer by profession commended INEC for setting in motion an extensive process of the engagement of stakeholders to peaceful resolution.
