Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri: Stakeholders Brainstorm on Executing Court-ordered Delineation of Warri Federal Constituency

By Oghenero Eghweree, FRCN

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has promised that the interest of all ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, will be accommodated in the forthcoming delineation of wards in the area.

The INEC National Commissioner representing Delta, Edo and Cross River State Prof. Rhoda Gumus, stated this in Asaba, at an Expanded Stakeholders Meeting on the Supreme Court Ordered Delineation of Warri Federal Constituency delivered on the 2nd of December 2022.

After over four hours of deliberation the stakeholders resolved that the exercise will be carried out according the Supreme Court judgement and that representatives of the ethnic nationalities should commence the sensitization of their people on the forthcoming field delineation process.

The INEC National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the Commission had entertained submissions by political and traditional representatives from the federal constituency, which would form the basis of agreement for the execution of the directive by the Supreme Court.

Prof. Gumus said, “We have asked them to submit their inputs, which we are going to also use in doing our groundwork.”

[L-R] 3rd, Member representing Warri Federal Constituency Thomas Ereyitomi; 4th, Speaker DTHA Emomotimi Guwor; 5th, REC Sir Etekamba Umoren; 7th, National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus and others.

“Warri Federal Constituency is a big federal constituency that is expanding on daily basis. The Delineation will favor the Itsekiris; will favor the Ijaws; will favor the Urhobos. It is win-win situation for everybody”, Ereyitomi stressed.

Chief Victor Okumagba representing the Urhobo nationality remarked that, “We as communities we are going to cooperate with INEC and we will make sure that we give INEC the enabling environment.”

A delegate from the Ijaw group Chief Monday Keme, noted they are going to visit the areas involved, so I believe INEC will do justice to this matter.

While Chief Robinson Ariyo, who spoke on behalf of the Itsekiri people, said, “We are consistent in obeying judgements, we don’t have any oppositions, but if they depart (from Supreme Court ruling), then that’s where our problem comes.”

A Deputy Director from INEC headquarters Kehinde Mustapha explained to the gathering the Criteria and Guidelines for the Fresh Delineation of Wards and Polling Units; Features of the Electoral Units and Considerations for the Establishment of a Polling Unit.