The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to delineate the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, likely in response to the Supreme Court’s directive issued on December 2, 2022. Prof. Rhoda Gumus, the INEC National Commissioner representing Delta, Edo, and Cross River states, made this commitment during an expanded stakeholders meeting held in Asaba.
She assured stakeholders that the interests of all ethnic groups would be considered in the delineation process.
At the meeting, stakeholders agreed to adhere to the Supreme Court’s judgement regarding the delineation and emphasized the importance of ethnic representation in the upcoming field delineation process. It was resolved that representatives of various ethnic groups should initiate awareness campaigns among their communities to prepare them for the forthcoming exercise.
Gumus informed attendees that INEC had already received submissions from political and traditional representatives of the Warri Federal Constituency, which would serve as the foundation for implementing the Supreme Court’s directive.
The commission aims to ensure that the delineation process is carried out transparently and in accordance with the principles of fairness and inclusivity, taking into account the diverse interests within the constituency.
“We have asked them to submit their inputs, which we are going to also use in doing our groundwork,” Gumus said.
The member representing Warri federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, described the Supreme Court judgement as a win for all the people of the federal constituency.
“Warri federal constituency is a big federal constituency that is expanding daily. The delineation will favour the Itsekiri; it will favour the Ijaw; and it will favour the Urhobo. It is a win-win situation for everybody,” he assured.
Chief Victor Okumagba, representing the Urhobo nationality, a delegate from the Ijaw group, Chief Monday Keme and Chief Robinson Ariyo, who spoke on behalf of the Itsekiri people, agreed they would go with INEC to visit the areas involved and that INEC should do justice to the matter.