…Call for panel investigation
Leaders of Itsekiri people of the ethnic extraction of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State have kicked against ward delineation of its constituency as ordered by the Supreme Court and called on the Federal Government to immediately set up an independent panel to scrutinise the work of the delineation committee in a bid to correcting the anomaly.
They also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to wade into what they termed “brewing threats to regional security, safety to human lives and property including oil facilities in the region.”
The leaders in a widely circulated petition through their solicitors, Amuda Kannike (SAN) & Co, copies of which were made available to newsmen and copied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, and National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), called for investigation into the composition and actions of the committee to determine whether they were just and fair.
They also asked the electoral body (INEC) among others to “investigate the finances of the top officials of INEC and those of the members of the Committee to determine the allegation of financial inducement in the entire process.
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They stated: “Examine the proposal of the committee to determine whether the said proposal is not, in fact, the cancellation of names of existing Itsekiri communities and their replacement with names of Ijaw communities; in most cases against Supreme Court judgments.
“Inquire into the reason why over 21 years, beginning from 2003, there was the judgment in Suit No. FHC/B/109/97 Mr. 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 declared 12 Wards illegal and 10 Wards legal which up till date INEC has never implemented that judgment.”
They further want relevant authorities to “Determine whether the Committee ought to have proceeded with the event of 4th day of April, 2025 when it has been served an application for an injunction restraining it from doing” so adding that “the proceedings of the said Committee be stayed in the meantime to allow for the execution of the prayers.”
