Confusion Trails Suspension of Warri Constituency Delineation

…INC blames NSA for blocking Supreme Court order
…We have no hand in it— Top NSA source

By Yinka Giwa

Confusion has enveloped the suspension of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency, following claims and counterclaims between the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Addressing a press conference in Yenagoa, INC Global President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, accused the NSA of masterminding the suspension, describing it as “an affront to the Supreme Court and a declaration of war against electoral justice.” He said the INC was shocked that the delineation process, ordered by a landmark Supreme Court judgment of December 2, 2022, was halted under what he called “the flimsy pretext of security concerns.”

“The suspension of this process is nothing short of a dangerous precedent that signals to the nation that court orders can be trifled with when they do not serve the political interests of the powerful,” he declared. He further argued that the directive had placed INEC in an impossible position, forcing it to choose between obeying the Federal Government and upholding the judgment of the highest court in the land. “By succumbing to this pressure, INEC is effectively in contempt of the court it is constitutionally mandated to respect,” he warned.

But a top source in the Office of the NSA denied the allegation, insisting that the security office had no hand in the suspension. “How can anyone say that ?Linking the office to the suspension is incorrect and misleading,” the source stated, dismissing the INC’s claims as unfounded.

Despite the denial, the INC demanded the immediate and unconditional resumption of the delineation exercise in line with the Supreme Court ruling. It also urged the National Assembly to summon both the NSA and the INEC Chairman to explain what it called a “subversion of a Supreme Court order.” Okaba further appealed to the international community to take note of what he described as Nigeria’s growing disregard for judicial authority, warning that the suspension undermines the country’s democratic credibility.

“To the Ijaw nation, we urge calm but resolute vigilance. We are on the right side of the law and history. We shall explore all diplomatic means available to ensure that justice is not only served but is seen to be served,” he assured.

Okaba argued that halting the delineation would only weaken INEC’s independence and erode public confidence in its ability to conduct credible elections. “This suspension is not a solution for peace,” he declared.

INEC had earlier confirmed the suspension of activities related to the delineation of electoral wards in Warri Federal Constituency. Its Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, told reporters on Saturday that the matter had been “escalated to the Office of the NSA.” “At the moment, we cannot take any further action,” she said.

Eta-Messi, however, clarified that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Warri would continue as scheduled, relying on the existing polling units and registration areas.