The Ijaw National Congress (INC) worldwide says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is acting within its constitutional mandate in the Warri ward delineation exercise.
Global President of INC worldwide, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Saturday.
Prof. Okaba was reacting to the call for the cancellation of the ongoing delineation of Warri Federal Constituency by the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC).
The Ijaw leader noted that there was no reason for INEC to discontinue the exercise as the electoral body was compelled by the rule of law to carry out the delineation.
According to Okaba, “As a matter of fact, INEC is compelled by the Rule of Law in consonance with the dictates of the Supreme Court and has so acted within its constitutional mandate so far.
“It must be made abundantly clear that, the ongoing delineation is not done by choice, but by compulsion, having been ordered by the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land to do so before the next elections”, he added.
The INC leader further said, “Moreover, INEC, as empowered by the Nigerian Constitution, is carrying out this delineation exercises based on empirical population, demographics and dynamics, administrative demands, and national interest.
“The insinuation that the Ijaw nation is pressuring INEC to favour its interests is not only false but deliberately misleading. If anything, the OPC are the ones acting to pressure the INEC to abandon a task, so ordered by the Supreme Court.
“We must be reminded that INEC would have committed Contempt of Court should it give in to these blackmails and discontinue the exercise”, he added.
The INC global president also debunked the notions of land seizure in the exercise.
“The facts are clear for all to see. The INEC visited every community to determine both the ownership and occupants before commencing the delineation exercise after rounds of stakeholders’ meetings,” he said.
Okaba said that the INC was however disappointed by the call of the OPC on the INEC and President Bola Tinubu to order a discontinuation of the Warri delineation.
He said that while any Nigerian or non-Nigerian could express his or her opinion on any National matter, the OPC lacked the moral and constitutional standing to interfere in the internal issues of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo people of Delta.
For him, “This is because matters involving our communities are deeply rooted in local history and should not be politicised or misrepresented by external bodies.
“History must be respected, not distorted. The Ijaw people are the first indigenous people not only to the Warri area or the South-South but to Nigeria. Unless, we want to lie to ourselves that the Itsekiris are more fishermen than the Ijaws are.
“Our presence, occupation, heritage, and contributions are well documented and cannot be erased or challenged by revisionist claims masquerading as regional advocacy.
“The INC remains committed to peaceful coexistence, constructive dialogue, and constitutional means of addressing any tribal concerns among all tribes in the Niger Delta and beyond.
“We advise all stakeholders to refrain from sensationalism and allow due process to prevail.
“The INC will not be silent in the face of provocation and attempts to connive against any legitimate interest and rights of Ijaw people anywhere in the world and will continue to defend the interests, heritage, and dignity of the Ijaw Nation at all levels.
“We have advisedly been silent about the issues around Warri delineation exercise, but will not stand by and watch hired regional advocates and intruders undermine the sovereignty and constitutional rights of our people,” he said.
He noted that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of equity, accountability, and respect for the rights of all.
“We believe that it’s only through fairness, true recognition, and equitable treatment that genuine peace and reconciliation can be achieved in any society,” he said
NAN
