Attempt by the Itsekiri ethnic nationality to halt the judgement of the Supreme Court which ordered fresh delineation of the electoral wards and units in the Warri Federal Constituency of Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Areas of Delta State was on Thursday rejected by the Federal High Court in Warri.
The Itsekiri Nation through their lawyer, Chief Robinson Ariyo, had approached the court with an interim application to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to proceeed with the delineation process.
Recall that the Supreme Court had in a judgement ordered INEC to conduct fresh delineation of all electoral wards of Warri Federal Constituency comprising Warri South, Warri South West and Warri North.
Justice I. M. Sani rejected the application on Thursday while ruling on an Ex-parte motion marked No. FHC/WR/CS/46/2024 brought before it by the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality through their lawyer, Chief Ariyo.
Ariyo had argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be stopped from taking further steps in respect of the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and units until the determination of the motion on notice, an argument the court flatly rejected.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court on the 2nd day of December, 2022 in Appeal No.: S/413/2016: Hon. George Timinimi & 9 Ors v INEC had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to carry out fresh delineation of electoral wards and units in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West LGAs before the conduct of future elections.
INEC has commenced the process of implementing the judgment by facilitating stakeholders meeting at Asaba and Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri Federal Constituency have through their Lawyers, Eric Omare and Sunny Emuveyan applied to be joined as interested parties in the matter at the Federal High Court, Warri.
The Court adjourned the substantive suit to July 16th, 2024 for the consideration of the Joinder applications by Counsels to both interested parties.
