Re: Urgent Demand For Compliance With Supreme Court Judgement In Hon George Timinimi & Others V. INEC ( SC.413/2016 ) -

‎By Uche Alvin

OPEN LETTER TO THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
‎
‎The Chairman
‎Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
‎INEC Headquarters
‎Plot 436 Zambezi Crescent, Maitama District
‎Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
‎Dear Sir,
‎
‎RE: URGENT DEMAND FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT IN HON. GEORGE TIMINIMI & OTHERS V. INEC (SC.413/2016) – ILLEGALITY OF CONTINUOUS VOTER REGISTRATION IN WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY WITHOUT FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WARD DELINEATION EXERCISE.
‎
‎I write to you as a concerned legal practitioner, citizen, and stakeholder in the democratic future of Nigeria, particularly with respect to Delta State and the Warri Federal Constituency, which comprises Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West Local Government Areas.
‎This correspondence becomes necessary in view of the urgent legal and constitutional imperative for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give full and timely effect to the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on December 2, 2022, in the case of Hon. George Timinimi & Others v. INEC (SC.413/2016).
‎
‎Background and Legal Position
‎In its authoritative and binding judgment, the Supreme Court unequivocally ordered INEC to:
‎1. Conduct a fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency;
‎2. Undertake fresh voter registration upon conclusion of such delineation; and
‎3. Suspend further elections in the Constituency until full implementation of the above orders is completed.
‎While it is commendable that INEC has initiated the delineation process and produced a detailed field report, the most critical phase, final adoption and operationalization of the said report remains outstanding. This continued delay threatens the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s judgment, undermines the rule of law and risks disenfranchising the people of Warri Federal Constituency in violation of their constitutional right to participate in credible and lawful elections.
‎
‎INEC’s Proposed Continuous Voter Registration is Premature and Unlawful
‎I am constrained to respond to INEC’s recent announcement regarding the commencement of nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR)—scheduled for August 18, 2025 (Online) and August 25, 2025 (In-Person).
‎While I fully acknowledge and support INEC’s constitutional mandate to conduct voter registration, I must emphasize that initiating the CVR process in the Warri Federal Constituency at this time is legally impermissible. It is:
‎1. Premature – given that the Supreme Court’s preconditions have not been satisfied;
‎2. Unlawful – as it violates a subsisting and binding Supreme Court judgment;
‎3. Inequitable and unjust – as it would be conducted under an unconstitutional and unrecognized ward and polling unit structure.
‎No lawful or meaningful voter registration exercise can take place in the Warri Federal Constituency until the final delineation report is released and operationalized, in line with the directives of the apex court.
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‎Demands and Legal Expectations
‎Accordingly, I hereby call upon INEC to:
‎1. Immediately release and adopt the Final Fieldwork Report on the Ward and Polling Unit Delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency;
‎2. Conduct a fresh voter registration exercise with the Final Fieldwork Report of the Wards and Polling Units of the Delineation Exercise when released.
‎3. Desist from conducting any Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Warri Federal Constituency as it is in contravention with the Supreme Court Judgement.
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‎Conclusion
‎INEC, as a constitutionally created and independent body, bears a sacred duty to uphold the rule of law and respect binding judicial decisions, particularly those of the Supreme Court. Failure to do so not only jeopardizes the legal standing of any electoral activities undertaken in the affected areas but also exposes INEC to legal and constitutional challenges.
‎I trust that INEC will act swiftly and in good faith to ensure full compliance with the law and protect the democratic rights of the people of Warri Federal Constituency.
‎Yours faithfully,
‎
‎HON. (BARR.) JEFFREY PERE OROMONI
‎Immediate Past Councilor of Warri South West Local Government Area.