INEC 10/12 Wards Controversy: Your invitation to debate, should have been in the court – IPAF tells Urhobos in Warri

The Itsekiri Political Advancement Front, IPAF, has reacted to a press statement credited to the “Urhobo in Warri”, calling for a debate to be staged on the controversy surrounding the 10/12 INEC Wards in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, saying the Itsekiris: “Have passed that stage and whatever debate they (Urhobos in Warri) want to stage, should have been in the court of law”.

In a press statement sent to Fresh Angle International, today, Wednesday March 30, IPAF, opined: “We wish to state that the press statement by ‘Urhobo in Warri’, is not only worthless, but the points raised there are baseless. We therefore, call on them to go for more tutelage, to be able to differentiate between facts and law”.

The IPAF press statement, signed by their Chairman, Secretary and Coordinator of Delta Central, Comr. Mene Abugewa D, Engr. Tuoyo Omagbitse Blessing and Comr. Prosper Esigbone, respectively, added: “We have gone passed the stage of appealing to INEC to the position of the law, where the court declared 12 wards structure illegal and that INEC should revert back to the original 10 wards structure, because it was done contrary to the process set by law for creation of wards as declared in the case with the suit number Suit No. FHC/B/109/97

“We wish to state no doubt that  Warri is a metropolitan City under the authority of Olu of Warri as declared in the case with suit number  SC. 67/1971 SC 327/1972 and  reaffirmed in the case  with the suit number LQ/PC/1934/86

“We wish to correct the assertions in the press statement that in the illegal 12 wards structure, Itsekiri have 6 and Urhobo have 6. This is false and unfounded. 

“We wish to state in response to their press statement that they are ready to stage us on a public debate on the proprietary of the need to maintain the status quo. Again, we have passed that stage and whatever debate they want to stage should have been in the court of law, but unfortunately they are not party to the case and they can't be party to the case, because they were not the ones that carried out the illegal delineation exercise in 1998.

“They alleged that they have instituted a case at the High Court Warri, of what basis did they institute the case, because as far as we are concern, it is baseless and an exercise in futility.

“We therefore state that INEC have no option whatsoever than  to revert to the 10 wards structure based on the judgement of the court and any attempt by INEC to delay the implementation, is an invitation for chaos and violence and INEC should be held responsible for any breach of peace in Warri South LGA. Consequently, we aligned with the position of Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) that there won't be election if INEC failed”.

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