Exclusive: Court ruling opposed to 12 wards in Warri South, may pitch Uroye against Opuoru, Edema Vs Tidi

A fresh controversy appears to be brewing in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, ahead of the February 25 and March 11 general elections, following a ruling today, Tuesday January 17, by the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, that the 12 Electoral Ward structure being used by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in conducting elections in Warri South Constituencies I and II in the State House of Assembly, is illegal, null and void.

Fresh Angle International understands that Hon. Justice Okon Abang, while delivering the ruling on the “12 wards illegal structure case, created by the Delta State electoral body against the original 10 wards created by INEC”, said “the High Court ruling against the 12 illegal wards structure still subsist”.

Justice Abang, reportedly stated that it's only the 10 original wards created by INEC that remains the legally recognized wards in Warri South Constituencies I and II, particularly in the up-coming 2023 general elections, adding that INEC is not permitted to disobey the subsisting order of Court nullifying the 12 Wards in Warri South.

The 10 legal Wards in Warri South Constituency I, according to the High Court ruling of today, Tuesday January 17 are: Esisi, Okere, Bowen and Pessu, while Warri South Constituency II are: Igbudu, Avenue, Ekurede, Ubeji, Obodo and Ode-Itsekiri Wards.

INEC conducted the 2019 elections with the controversial 12 wards structure in seeming disobedience of the Court Judgment and has listed candidates for the 2023 elections on the same 12 wards structure, prompting “the plaintiffs (whose identity (ies) was unknown as at press time)” to drag INEC to the Court to prevent further perceived illegalities.

The trial Justice Abang, said it's only by process of comital to prison that would compel INEC to obey the Court order and desist from conducting election, using the annulled 12 Wards.

Whilst This Flagship Niger Delta Online Newspaper, got wind of moves to appeal the Federal High Court ruling of today, it was exclusively gathered that should the judgment stands, it will automatically push Hon. Augustine Uroye to contest Warri South Constituency II seat with Hon. Matthew Opuoru, the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency and swap Dr. Michael Tidi, Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, to battle Hon. Mofe Edema for Warri South Constituency I ticket, in what could possibly be fresh primary to be conducted by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This is because the unit of Hon. Augustine Uroye, who presently represents Warri South Constituency I in Delta State House of Assembly, will understandably fall under Constituency II in the 10-ward structure, while the current unit of Dr. Michael Tidi at Edjeba, is believed to be under constituency I in the 10-ward composition.

Authoritative piece of information, obtained by Our Correspondent, revealed that INEC Officials didn't appear while the suit at the Federal High Court, Warri, lasted and evidence was purportedly tendered before the court of how INEC allegedly promised to conduct elections in Warri South with 10 wards.

Recall that the Supreme Court, had reportedly ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, late last week, to carry out fresh delineation of electoral wards and units in Warri South, Warri South- West and Warri North Local Government Areas in Warri, Delta State, “before the conduct of future elections in the affected areas”.

Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, in the lead judgment, relied on Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act in issuing the order, compelling the defendant (INEC), and its agents to conduct a fresh delineation of electoral wards/polling units for Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas of Warri Federal Constituency.

As at the time of this report, it was unclear what the Supreme Court definition of “future elections in the affected areas” meant, but keen political gladiators and followers, opined that the Supreme Court judgement on delineation of electoral wards/polling units for Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas, does not affect the February 25 and March 11 forthcoming polls.

×