By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Senate, on Tuesdays gave a nod towards restoring Aniocha North II State Constituency, Delta State in compliance with Supreme Court Judgment in suit No. SC/129/2019.
Precise Post recalls that the nod was sequel to a motion on “Restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency, Delta State in compliance with Supreme Court Judgment”, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North).
In its resolutions, the Senate urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency, Delta State.
It mandated the electoral body to include the Constituency in the next State Houses of Assembly elections after the current life of the Delta State House of Assembly in compliance with Section 115 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The upper legislative arm noted that the delay in implementing the apex court verdicts undermines the rule of law, and an outright denial of proper representation for the people in the State House of Assembly.
While presenting the motion, Senator Nwoko noted 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, initiated a legal action at the Federal High Court, Asaba, seeking the restoration of the Aniocha North II State Constituency.
“Although the originating summons suffered outright dismissal at the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, on November 22, 2017, delivered judgment in favour 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.
“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”.
“In compliance with the Supreme Court judgment, INEC convened a meeting with the stakeholders of the constituency on November 19, 2020, pledging to implement the court’s directive and subsequently submitted a comprehensive report to the National Assembly for consideration in line with Section 115 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)”, he said.
The lawmaker noted 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 17 December in 2020, further action has not been taken to facilitate the restoration of the state constituency by the electoral umpire.
