Ward Delineation: Warri Reclamation Trust Approaches Federal High Court, Seeks Police Investigation into Alleged INEC Fraudulent Conduct
A group of Young Itsekiri Ethnic Extraction Advocates under the aegis of Warri Reclamation Trust (WRT) has approached a Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State to prevail on the Nigerian Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged infractions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its handling of the recent ward redelineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.
The applicants, Tsaye Edeyibo Mene, Bright Omaghomi, Osandatunwa Oritsematosan Priscilla, Lily-white Esigbone, Omatseyin Alfred, Edeyibo Laju, Momorin Misan, Ogharandukun Joseph Toritseju, Uremure Ayeoritsenasor, Awala Gbone, Adrian Edema, and Kwame Woods, on behalf of themselves and Itsekiri voters of Warri Federal Constituency in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/89/2025, urged the court to grant an Order of Mandamus directing the respondents, which is the Police, to act expeditiously on the allegations against the electoral body.
The applicants, through their counsel Chief Robinson Ariyo, alleged that the Police had refused to act on a petition before it on the alleged unwholesome conduct of the officials of the electoral commission, stressing that the court should intervene for justice to reign.
In an affidavit to further enforce the Motion Ex-parte filled Friday August 15, before the court, the applicants alleged that the affected INEC officials allowed themselves to be compromised and induced financially by some interested stakeholders to slant the tentative outcome of the redelineation exercise in their favour.
It reads thus: “The above-named suspects fraudulently and in a corrupt manner conducted the ongoing delineation and/or re-delineation of Warri Federal Constituency by: Creating fictitious communities to form units that make up wards; Importing communities from outside the three Warri Local Government Areas (e.g., communities from Burutu, Bomadi, Ughelli South, Udu in Delta State, and communities from Edo and Ondo States); Illegally adjusting boundaries. That I verily believe the above conduct of the said suspects manifests the following specific offences under the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Removal of boundary marks with intent to defraud contrary to Section 457 of the Criminal Code Act; Willfully causing damage, etc., to survey and boundary marks contrary to Section 458 of the Criminal Code Act; Using deception to alter boundaries or gain advantage in a boundary dispute contrary to Section 418 of the Criminal Code Act; Conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace in Warri and environs contrary to Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Act.” They stressed.
