Despite protest by a group of concerned Itsekiri leaders, against the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on the delineation of wards and polling units across the Warri federal constituency in Delta state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it would commence the exercise from Wednesday this week.

At the end of a stakeholders meeting of political leaders and representatives of traditional rulers from Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri in the constituency at the Government House Annex, Warri, yesterday tagged, “Stakeholders meeting for the implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court on the fresh delineation of wards and polling units in Warri federal constituency. “

Professor Rhoda Gumus who represented the National Chairman of INEC, Professor Yakubu Mahmood said the three ethnic groups were set for the exercise, adding that their focal representatives were actively participating in the process towards the delineation.

“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.

Meanwhile, the Itsekiri group in a press statement made available to newsmen at the premises of the Government House Annex, among others, rejected the delineation exercise, urging the electoral body to comply with a High Court judgment which earlier ordered a reversal to the original ten ward structures in Warri south local government area before it was raised to twelve wards by the electoral body.

The group in its statement signed by F.J. Atie Esq. also called for reconstitution of the supervisory body constituted by INEC to drive the delineation exercise, noting that the head, Professor Rhoda and two others were of Ijaw extraction, an ethnic group they alleged was an interested party on the ward structure they were agitating against.

Their statement reads in parts: “On its own and suspiciously in our view, for today’s activity and all the arrangements leading thereto, INEC set up this Management/Delimitation Team or Committee to delineate Warri Federal Constituency headed by Professor Rhoda Gumus, a person who is of Ijaw ethnic extraction, the same ethnic extraction with one of the 3 stakeholder groups in the Warri Federal Constituency. We seek to ask; how does this speak to the principles of impartiality and fair hearing as it affects that very important pillar of justice?

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the fourth estate of the realm, it may interest us all to know today that the Chairperson of this Committee is a person of Ijaw ethnic nationality, Professor Rhoda Gumus, the Officer to superintend the ground operations of the exercise, and the Head of Operations is Elemson Joseph Jumbo, again an Ijaw man. No single Itsekiri was invited for the very first set of stakeholder meetings to consummate this exercise.

“Consequently we desire a situation where all that has been done so far with regards to the planned exercise be set aside, a new Committee constituted in such a way and manner that it should not be superintended by a person or persons who have interest in the outcome of the exercise and the process begins again.

“The above requests are not only consistent with our peoples’ right of fair hearing as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also with the INEC manual regulating its practices. That is the reason why INEC never permits any of its Commissioners to serve in their state of origin. “

Some protesting Itsekiri youths outside the gate of the Government House Annex carried placards that read: ‘INEC must respect the constitution,’ ‘ INEC must respect stakeholders resolution of 5/04/23,’and ‘INEC must dismantle the illegal 12 wards structures before delineation.’

In his welcome address earlier at the meeting, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Umoren, said the meeting was preparatory to the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on ward and polling units’ delineation.

“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.

“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 explained.

There was a heavy security presence at the Government House Annex while the meeting lasted. (Vanguard)