INEC Did Good Work, Nothing Will Change Ward Delineation in Warri- Okumagba Opines
By: Odeya Ogbetuo
A prominent Urhobo leader and grassroots politician, Olorogun Victor Okumagba JP, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done a good job over ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, adding that nothing will change what INEC has done.
Chief Okumagba stated this while addressing newsmen shortly after he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of ‘Idjede’ of Okere Urhobo kingdom Warri by His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ogheneochuko Morris Eyekpemi Egbobonyen, Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom Warri.
Chief Okumagba further said that what INEC has done has brought equity, an end to lopsidedness, and political marginalization in the area.
Chief Okumagba said that after eleven years of legal tussle over ward marginalization in Warri, the Supreme Court gave judgment mandating INEC to go back to Warri and conduct proper fresh delineation, and they came and did their job without bias or favoritism, adding that what we now have is the true reflection of the area politically.
He categorically opined that nothing will change what the Supreme Court has said and what INEC has done over ward delineation in Warri, urging the Itsekiris and Ijaws to maintain peace.
According to him, “We approached the Court due to wrong done to us by marginalizing us in ward allocation and waited for eleven years before judgment came. In 1996, political wards were created via fiat. That time of 1996 has passed. The Supreme Court says INEC should go back to Warri and conduct proper fresh delineation of wards. INEC came and did their job and all tribes have equal representation. If the 1996 wards created were not reversed, this will not be reversed, I can assure you.
“INEC has given Warri South LGA 20 wards constitutionally and what we are going to do now is internal amendments and observations, corrections, like misuse of names and incorrect naming of units. We have corrected that within one week and sent them to INEC. If you watch my interview on Channel Television when Seun Okinbaloye brought up the question of possible reversal, I told him it is not possible. The issue of re-delineation is not possible; the Supreme Court told INEC to go to Warri and conduct proper fresh delineation, and they came. The issue of re-delineation is not possible, and that will not happen.”
He clearly stated that nobody was oppressed or cheated, stressing that INEC did their job, guided by the rule of law, and there are no lapses.
“I told the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja face to face that the issue of arms (weapons) recovered from a suspected retired Itsekiri military officer should be his concern and should not meddle in INEC’s role over delineation, and he agreed. I also told him that he should not allow that matter to be swept under the carpet. If there is a breach of peace which some are threatening, he should not waste time to curtail and stop it, which he agreed to. INEC did the right thing, and that is the truth.”
