The Itsekiri Nation has rejected the proposed ward delineation in Delta State by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The people threatened to take INEC to court if the plan continued.

The Secretary of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Mr Amorighoye Mene, stated this on Sunday during a press conference in Asaba.

The group vowed to challenge INEC on the delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency, noting that the constituency consisted of Warri North, Warri South West and Warri South local governments.

He said, “We expected INEC to consider the voting strength of the various ethnic groups that comprise the area — the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Ijaw, and other mixed-demographic areas — when delineating the wards and polling units.

“At a stakeholders meeting on Friday, INEC unveiled the proposed delineated wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency, in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment that calls for fresh delineation.

“We were not allowed to speak or react at the venue of the unveiling, but we have looked at the report given to us and the entire Itsekiri nation completely condemns and rejects the work done by INEC.”

Mene further stated that in Warri North, Itsekiris used to have six wards and Ijaws, four wards since 1999.

“From the reviewed INEC report, out of 18 wards, itsekiris with 75,912 registered voters and 134 polling units now have eight wards, while the Ijaws with 35,480 voter strength and 58 polling units now have 10 wards.

“In Warri South West, Itsekiris with a voter strength of 94,074 and 175 polling units based on the INEC register, now have five wards out of 19 wards delineated by INEC in their report, while the Ijaws with 95,046 voting strength and 147 polling units have 14 wards in the area.

“In Warri South, Itsekiris with a voting strength of 88,309 and 174 polling units now have eight wards while the Urhobos with 38,000 voters and 72 polling units, have 10 wards and the mix demographic area with about 51,517 voters and 105 units, the Ijaws got two wards in the area,” he said.

Mene said the implications of INEC’s action, if allowed to be implemented, was that the Itsekiri people would not get fair representation in terms of electoral positions.

He called on INEC to reflect on the issues, and be fair and equitable based on the number of registered voters from each of the areas.

He insisted that the purpose of ward delineation was the eligibility of voters and how they could vote conveniently without being disfranchised.


https://punchng.com/itsekiri-rejects-inec-delta-ward-delineation/