“You Cannot Defy The Judgment Of The Supreme Court, Five Federal High Courts And The Court Of Appeal As A Government Institution”___Abraye Warns INEC, Demands Immediate Implementation Of Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report -

By Esther David

The National Coordinator of Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), Comrade Freeborn Abraye, has fiercely condemned the continued delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in implementing the Warri Federal Constituency delineation report despite multiple court victories affirming the legality of the exercise.

Abraye described the delay as “dangerous, suspicious and unacceptable,” insisting that INEC no longer has any moral, legal or constitutional excuse to withhold the implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation report after five Federal High Court judgments and a Court of Appeal judgment reportedly dismissed all attempts made by the Itsekiri ethnic group to stop the implementation process.

“The judiciary has spoken loudly and clearly. The courts have dismantled every attempt to sabotage this process. INEC must stop acting as if the law does not matter. Every additional delay raises serious questions and deepens public suspicion,” Abraye declared.

According to him, the resistance against the delineation report is not about justice or fairness, but about the desperation of the Itsekiris afraid of losing what he described as “decades of political dominance built on manipulation, propaganda and distortion of democratic realities.”

“For years, the political structure of Warri Federal Constituency was designed to favor the Itsekiri people, while suppressing the true voting strength and demographic realities of the Ijaw and Urhobo people. The era of political intimidation, deception and monopoly has come to an end,” he said.

Abraye stated that the new twelve-ward structure represents a historic opportunity to restore fairness, equity and balanced representation to the Ijaw people of Warri South West, Warri North and the Urhobo people of Warri South Local Government Areas.

“The Ijaws of Warri South West, the Ijaws of Warri North and the Urhobos of Warri South have endured years of political marginalization despite being the true majorities in the three local governments in Warri Federal constituency. The delineation report is not a favor to anybody, it is a democratic correction of longstanding political imbalance,” he added.

The NDAPDEJ National Coordinator accused those opposing the implementation of the delineation report of being terrified of the new and transparent electoral structure that will completely dismantle their old systems of political advantage.

“They are fighting desperately because they know the old political order cannot survive under a fair and transparent ward structure. They know that once the delineation is implemented, the true democratic strength of the people will finally emerge. That is the real fear driving the Itsekiris,” Abraye stated.

He further warned that any continued refusal or delay by INEC to implement the delineation report after clear judicial pronouncements could dangerously undermine public confidence in democracy, the judiciary and the electoral process.

“INEC must understand that democracy cannot survive where court judgments are ignored and political pressure is allowed to override justice. Nigerians are watching. The people of Warri Federal Constituency are watching. History is watching,” he warned.

Abraye therefore called on INEC to immediately implement the delineation report and fully comply with the Supreme Court directive without bowing to political pressure or ethnic sentiments.

“The time for excuses has expired. The time for political games has expired. The time for justice, fairness and democratic truth has come. INEC must immediately implement the delineation report and allow a new political era to emerge in Warri Federal Constituency,” he concluded.

Signed:

Comrade Freeborn Abraye
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ).