The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to align its actions with judicial directives and provide clear, consistent communication to prevent further confusion and unrest among constituents in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.
The group noted that the situation emphasises the importance of accountability in electoral processes, and the necessity of adhering to legal frameworks established by higher courts.
In a statement on Tuesday, IYC’s national spokesman, Ambassador Binebai Yerin Princewill said that there is a notable discord between statements issued by INEC officials, with reports of the delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency being both suspended and not suspended.
He said this inconsistency raises questions about the internal communication and hierarchy within the INEC.
But INEC said on Monday that it had not suspended action on the proposed delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency.
In a statement, the commission’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun said the clarification became imperative following reports in some sections of the media that the exercise had been suspended.
He said: ‘Our attention has been drawn to a report published by a national newspaper in which an official of the commission was misquoted on the proposed delineation of Wards in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Federal Constituency as ordered by the Supreme Court in its judgement delivered on 2 December 2022.
‘The commission hereby affirms that contrary to the report, the proposed delineation has not been suspended and no final decision has been taken on the matter.
‘Meanwhile, the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is being undertaken in all the local government areas under the said constituency’.
But, Princewill expressed concern over the apparent lack of clarity in INEC’s policies and the potential for public misinformation.
He recalled that a landmark ruling on 2 December 2022, declared the current delineation in Warri Federal Constituency as fraudulent and ineffective, mandating a comprehensive re-delineation by INEC.
The IYC posed a critical question regarding the legality and appropriateness of INEC’s continuous voter registration in an area where the Supreme Court had deemed the electoral wards and units non-existent.
Princewill said that, given the tension arising from INEC’s inconsistent handling of the re-delineation and voter registration process, the IYC is advocating for clarity in communication from INEC and adherence to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
He argued that until INEC implements its field report regarding the re-delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, it lacks the authority to conduct any voter registration in that area.
Princewill further said: ‘Let it be known that the delay tactics employed by INEC in implementing its draft report won’t work, as it must not take the commission an eternity to put things together in Warri Federal Constituency. The Ijaw Youth Council will surely resist it with every fibre of its being.
‘INEC’s intentional delay and extension of the continuous voter registration exercise to Warri Federal Constituency is nothing short of contempt of court and an affront to the Nigerian judiciary in particular. If INEC cannot fix an issue with a legal backing in just one federal constituency in Nigeria, what then will be the hope of Nigerians putting their trust in a credible election in Nigeria by the same INEC?
‘While we have continued to preach peace and the unity of Nigeria, the relevant authorities must be seen doing the right thing by not throwing this lovely and peaceful nation into another form of unrest on account of this’.
However, only the Ijaw communities in the electoral district seem to have accepted INEC’s proposal, while the Itsekiri consider the proposal unfair, decrying that it fails to reflect the population and voter strength of the various ethnic groups in the area.
Also, the Urhobo reject it on grounds that the exercise does not reflect their numerical strength in the region, particularly in Warri South where they claim they command an overwhelming majority in population.
