The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kickstarted process to begin a fresh delineation of electoral wards and pollings units in Warri Federal Constituency.
The move is to implement a ruling of the Supreme Court, ordering the electoral umpire to reassign wards and polling units across the three Local Government Areas in Warri.
The delineation process was flagged off on Monday with a stakeholders at the Government House Annex in Warri, attended by political leaders and representatives of Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities.
Themed “Stakeholders Meeting for the Implementation of the Supreme Court Judgment on Fresh Delineation of Wards and Polling Units in Warri Federal Constituency,” the session highlighted the active engagement of ethnic group representatives in shaping the delineation process.
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Addressing attendees at the meeting, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Umoren, underscored the meeting’s importance in complying with the Supreme Court’s directive on electoral boundaries.
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According to Umoren, “Today’s gathering marks the commencement of implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling on the fresh delineation of Warri Federal Constituency,” he affirmed.
“I am pleased to welcome all participants to today’s Stakeholders meeting to herald the commencement of the implementation of the Supreme Court Judgment on the fresh delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, comprising Warri South, Warri Southwest and Warri North Local Government Areas.
“The choice of Warri South, as the venue of this Stakeholders meeting is not only premised on the fact that , Warri South Local Government Area is the Headquarters of Warri Federal Constituency but also one of the key agreements by the Focal/Contact Persons representing the three ethnic nationalities of the Ijaws, Itshekiris and Urhobos, at a meeting held in INEC State Office, Asaba, on Friday 19th April 2024 and accepted by the Commission, hence we are here gathered today for this all-important meeting.
“It is only fitting and proper that Stakeholder engagement preceding the mobilization of the technical staff of the Commission ought to be within the precinct of the theatre of operations, in this instance, the three Local Government Areas that makeup Warri Federal Constituency.
“It is also worth noting that the calibre of representation in this meeting from the Commission’s Headquarters, Abuja, signposts the Commission’s readiness to commence field work on the fresh delineation of the Constituency in compliance with the Supreme Court Judgment.
Umoren also noted the Commission’s readiness, with technical teams set to begin fieldwork across Warri South, Warri Southwest, and Warri North Local Government Areas from July 10th to July 27th, 2024.
“As we speak, over 50 persons, comprising technical officers and support staff from both National Headquarters and State office, are already on the ground, preparatory to moving to into the three Local Government Areas, to commence fieldwork, from Wednesday 10th -27th July 2024, he stated.
Umoren’s standpoint was reemphasized by Professor Rhoda Gumus, who represented INEC National Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood at the meeting.
“INEC is ready and the three ethnic groups are ready. Right now we are having a meeting on how to go ahead. I am representing the National Chairman. The three focal persons of the ethnic groups are in the meeting with us. The way forward is that we are ready. We came as a result of our chairman sending us. I am representing our chairman”, she said.
There was a heavy security presence at the Government House Annex while the meeting lasted, even as some Itsekiri youths protested against the delineation process.
