Supreme Court orders new electoral wards, units in three Warri LGAs

• Published date: 15 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Supreme Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry out fresh delineation of electoral wards and units in the three Local Governments in Warri, Delta State.

The affected Local Governments are Warri South West, Warri South and Warri North Local Government Areas.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in a unanimous judgment, ordered that the delineation be carried out before the conduct of future elections in the affected areas.

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

She made an order setting aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin division, delivered February 1, 2016.

The judgment by the Supreme Court, delivered on December 2, 2022, a copy of which The Nation sighted on Sunday, was on the appeal marked: SC/413/2016 filed by some Ijaws in Warri represented by Hon. George Timinimi and nine others.

Justice Abba-Aji noted that 'it is the constitutional duty and responsibility of the respondent (INEC) to do what the appellants are...