(SINL NIGERIA) The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday directed its committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to liaise with INEC and other relevant authorities to ensure full compliance with the Supreme Court judgment for restoration of Aniocha North II State constituency of Delta state.
Indeed, the upper legislative chamber also mandated the Clerk of the National Assembly to ensure the immediate transmission of the decision of the National Assembly to INEC for the conduct of elections in the constituency within 90 days.
This followed a motion by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North) for the restoration of Aniocha North II State constituency of Delta state.
Specifically, the lawmaker urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the consideration and approval of the proposal for the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency as submitted by INEC.
Senator Nwoko recalled that in 2014, the people of Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, Nkwu-Nzu, Ugboba, Idumuogo, Ugbodu, Ubulubu, Anioma, and Ogodo towns in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, initiated a legal action at the Federal High Court, Asaba, seeking the restoration of the Aniocha North II State Constituency;
He noted that although the Federal High Court dismissed the originating summons, the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, on November 22, 2017, delivered judgment in favor of the people, ordering the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections in the constituency.
Senator Nwoko further recalled that “INEC filed an application for leave to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court, in its ruling of November 29, 2019, dismissed the application, thereby affirming the judgment of the Court of Appeal as final, binding, and legally non-appealable
He emphasized that “INEC, in compliance with the judgment, convened a meeting with the stakeholders of the constituency on November 19, 2020, pledging to implement the court’s directive. Subsequently, INEC submitted a comprehensive report to the National Assembly for consideration in line with Section 115 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)”
He argued that despite INEC having concluded all processes for the restoration of the constituency and reminding the National Assembly of the matter through a letter dated December 17, 2020, further action has not been taken to facilitate the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency.
According to the lawmaker, “the delay in implementing the Supreme Court judgment undermines the rule of law, disenfranchises the people of the affected towns, and denies them proper representation in the Delta State House of Assembly”.
