INEC Warri Delineation: Eweregbene, Kusimi, Tekedor-Kusimi communities cry out over exclusion, hold joint press conference 

•Demands separate wards

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

Following alleged exclusion of some communities in the recent Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, delineation exercise in Warri federal constituency, the Eweregbene, Kusimi and Tekedor-Kusimi communities in Warri South West Local Government Area have cried out loud for alleged marginalization of the delineation exercise, demanding for separate wards for each of the affected communities.

In a statement by Mr. Newman Kusimi, Opinion Leader, Kusimi Community, Mr. Joseph Dedetolu, Opinion Leader, Eweregbene Community and Amb. Den. Clement Tekedor, Opinion Leader, Tekedor- Kusimi Community, during the press conference said the communities were constitutionally recognised entities with distinct histories, cultures, and legal status, adding that their existence were affirmed by judicial decisions, the National Population Census, and political and traditional institutions, including prior acknowledgments by INEC itself.

The statement emphasised that they have always participated actively in the democratic process and contributed to the socio-political development of Delta State and Nigeria at large.

The marginalized communities however called on Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, Chief Sylvester Oromoni, Chairman of Warri South West Local Government Area and His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to urgently intervene and address the injustice, arguing that their communities must not be silenced or excluded from the democratic process to which they were rightfully entitled.

The statement further added, “We, the leaders and people of Kusimi Community, Eweregbene Community, and Tokor Kusimi Community, we find it imperative to come together in unity and peace to assert int civic rights and correct a grave injustice recently meted out to us by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Our communities are not mere settlements. We are constitutionally recognized entities with distinct histories, cultures, and legal status. Our existence is affirmed by judicial decisions, the National Population Census, and political and traditional institutions, inhaling prior acknowledgments by INEC itself. We have always participated actively in the democratic process and contributed to the socio-political development of Delta State and Nigeria at large

“Historically, our communities have been part of Ward I in Warri South West Local Government Area, represented specifically in Units 22 and 27. This has been the framework through which we exercise our democratic rights.

“We are, therefore, alarmed and disappointed by our exclusion from the list of communities in INEC’s recent delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency. This omission is particularly disheartening given that our communities had earlier agitated for the creation of separate wards, based on our significant population and voting strength, which qualifies each community for such representation.

“To now see our names omitted and replaced with fictitious or non-existent ones is an affront to justice, democratic integrity, and our fundamental rights as citizens

“We, therefore, make the following demands:

“1. INEC must immediately reinstate the names of Kusimi, Eweregbene, and Tekeder-Kusimi Communities into the official list of communities in Warri South West LGA.

“2. INEC must recognize and create separate electoral wards for each of these communities, line with their population and voting capacity.

“3. The relevant authorities must investigate this set of exclusion and treat it as a violation of our constitutional and democratic rights.

“4. The media, civil society, and all justice-loving Nigerians med mand with us in coming that fairness, transparency, and equity is restored.

We are too important to be ignored by human beings, because no human can take the place of God.”

“We demand immediate corrective action, inclusion, and public clarification by INIC”.