The Warri Focus Group has openly contested the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to conduct a fresh ward delineation within the Warri Federal Constituency.
This disagreement, highlighted in a statement by the group’s Secretary, Mr. Olayemi Omateye, signals a potential conflict between civic organizations and electoral authorities.
Mr. Omateye, representing the Warri Focus Group, labeled INEC’s move as both selective and mischievous, expressing concerns over what he perceives as abnormalities in the electoral process. He announced the group’s intention to petition INEC, citing specific grievances and discrepancies.
“The proposition of INEC to implement the Supreme Court judgment and order to conduct a fresh ward delineation in the warri federal constituency is selective and mischievous.
“Apart from the fact that there are other several judgments ignored by INEC as it concerns the Warri South. I want to bring it to the notice of the public as I shall be approaching the relevant body to petition INEC over three abnormalities below.”
Listing the abnormalities, Omateye said: “The supreme Court judgment happened on December 2, 2022, and that was after the political parties primaries across the country; and as contained in the judgment that all future elections be suspended until that delineation takes effect.
“To the notice of the general public no counter appeal was done by anyone including inec the election umpire who did conduct the 2023 election in March without recourse to implementation of these clause that accompanies or which is part of the judgment.
“Here are my questions: is the implementation selective?
Why ignore the suspension of the election until now to propose an implementation of delineation? Can’t the delineation wait for another 10 years or would they cancel the already concluded election to be just and fair in following the precept of the judgment?”
