Critical stakeholders have approached the Federal High Court in Asaba to order a stop to the conduction of Local government elections across Warri Federal Constituency.
The suit has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first defendant and the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) as second Defendant.
The stakeholders including foremost peace and social justice advocate Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Denbo-denbofa Oweikpodor, Arc Sylvester Adowei, Emmanuel Igetei and Midwest Kukuru Esq, particularly prayed the court to stop the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) from conducting the July 13, 2024 local government elections in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas of the State.
In a suit marked FHC/ASB/CS/87/2024, The plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and “the Ijaw people of Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West LGAs of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State demanded a declaration that the 2nd Defendant (DSIEC) cannot conduct Local Government Council elections in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Councils of Delta State, without the 1st Defendant (INEC) establishing fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in APPEAL NO. S/413/2016: HON. GEORGE U. TIMINIMI & 9 ORS v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022.
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They also prayed the court, to order: “A DECLARATION that the 1st Defendant (INEC) cannot release its register of voters of polling units in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State to the 2nd Defendant (DSIEC) to conduct Local Government Council elections in the aforementioned Local Government Councils, without first establishing fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No. S/413/2016; Hon. George U. Timinimi & 9 Ors v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022.
“A DECLARATION that any election conducted by the 2nd Defendant to the positions of Chairmen of Council and Ward Councilors in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Councils of Delta State without the 1st Defendant (INEC) establishing fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in APPEAL NO. S/413/2016: HON. GEORGE U. TIMINIMI & 9 ORS v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022 is null and void and of no effect.”
Whilst also seeking: “AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 1 Defendant from releasing any purported register of voters of polling units in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State to the 2nd Defendant to conduct Local Government Council elections until the conclusion of fresh delineation of polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in APPEAL NO. S/413/2016: HON. GEORGE U. TIMINIMI & 9 ORS v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022,” the plaintiffs request: “AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant from conducting Local Government Council elections in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State until the 1st Defendant conclude the delineation of fresh polling units in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in APPEAL NO. S/413/2016: HON. GEORGE U. TIMINIMI & 9 ORS v. INEC delivered on 2/12/2022.
“ANY other legal or equitable remedy that this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
