By Ben Isioma Okafor.
It was an epic battle.Long drawn and intriguing but eventful in finality. The history of the struggle for restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency began in 2014. The demand fiery and fierce, amidst high expectations against subternerian resistance.
Emboldened with tough determination, the constituents of Aniocha North II : Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, Ukwu-Nzu, Ugboba, Idumuogo, Ugbodu, Ubulubu, Anioma, and Ogodo towns in Aniocha North Local Government Area initiated a legal action at the Federal High Court, Asaba. The unanimous prayer: restoration of the Constituency which was illegally terminated after it was granted in line with the 1999 Federal Constitution.
The Constituency was originally represented at the Delta State House of Assembly by Hon. Chinakwe from Ukwu-Nzu community.
TEMPORARY SETBACK: CASE DISMISSED.
That suit was dismissed by the Federal High Court, but the affected communities , resilient and undeterred, took the matter to the Court of Appeal in Benin City.
Then the appellate court , delivered a judgment in favour of the Constituents on November 22, 2017, ordered the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency and swiftly directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections in the constituency to the Delta State House of Assembly.
CHALLENGE FROM THE INEC.
For inexplicable reasons, INEC challenged the Court of Appeal ruling at the Supreme Court. Strikingly, INEC’s application against the Appeal court judgment was summarily dismissed by the Supreme Court on November 29, 2019.
The Supreme Court unequivocally affirmed the Court of Appeal’s judgment as “final, binding, and legally non-appealable”. It irrevocably mandated INEC to conduct election to the Delta State House of Assembly towards the restoration of Aniocha North state Constituency II.
FRENZIED DIALOGUE WITH ANIOCHA-NORTH.
Handicapped by the Supreme Court’s ruling, the INEC convened a high-powered interactive meeting with Aniocha North stakeholders on November 19, 2020 at the Events Centre, Issele-Uku.
The stakeholders were all Aniocha-North Traditional Rulers, political party chieftains, policy makers as well as other interest groups.
OBI ANYASI SPEAKS FOR THE KINGS
To kick off the dialogue, the INEC representatives requested Aniocha-North kings to present their collective position as to whether or not they desired the restoration of Aniocha-North State Constituency II in Delta State as ordered by the Supreme Court. The kings promptly consulted and nominated the Obi of Idumuje-Unor , His Royal Majesty Charles Chukwunwike Anyasi III (JP) to speak for them.
In a terse lucid response, the Obi of Idumuje Unor,declared to the massive audience that it would be preposterous,implausible and unconstitutional to deviate from the mandate of the Supreme Court judgment.He concluded pointedly that the irreversible judgement be implemented as a fait accompli.
The affirmation of Obi Anyasi’s avowal by Prof. Godwin Nduka (Vice Chancellor, Novena University) and Prince Walters Eziashi who spoke next presented the INEC chieftains with no other option than to pledge implementation of the supreme court directive.
SUBTLE NEGOTIATIONS.
As the INEC officials departed, politicians from some other kingdoms, suddenly desirous of inclusion in the revamped Aniocha North Constituency II, requested Idumuje / Odiani geographical entity to look into the possibility of harbouring them.
A second meeting was scheduled at Issele Uku on November 21, 2020. At the reconvened meeting, His Majesty, the Obi of Idumuje-Unor stood up once more to reaffirm the people’s will for the adherence of Idumuje / Odiani to the irrevocability of the Supreme Court judgment. His argument was that since the
delineation that produced the original Constituency was what the Supreme Court upheld, any addition or subtraction would precariously destabilise the constitutional status quo.The position of the Obi,aided by heavy weight of the law was impregnable to fault.
INEC’S REPORT TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
The INEC subsequently submitted a comprehensive report to the National Assembly, urging NASS to make a declaration in line with Section 115 of the 1999 Constitution. That action was however prolonged by political subterfuge and brinkmanship, which included a failed Court case.
SENATE APPROVAL.
Alas! March 10, 2025, the Nigerian Senate finally approved the restoration of the State Constituency in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment. The Senate resolved that INEC should ensure the restoration with effect from the next State House of Assembly Election after the current life of the Delta State House of Assembly. The affirmation followed a bold motion by Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North at the national Assembly,who incidentally hails from Idumuje/Odiani clan as a native of Idumuje Ugboko.
AFFIRMATION BY THE HOUSE.
The Senate position was affirmed by the House of Representatives on May 15, 2025, following a timely motion by Hon. Ngozi Okolie, representing Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency.The incontrovertible concurrent position of both cadres of the National Assembly has thus put a vintage seal to the validity of Aniocha North state Constituency II.
The significant role played by Hon. Justice Chukwudumebi Oseji now of blessed memory, in the restoration struggle would ever live in glory. An erudite proud and patriotic son of Idumuje Unor. A matchless crusader of social justice and human liberty.
Also in the hall of joy, all worthy of celebratory appreciation are countless eminent and ordinary sons and daughters of Idumuje/Odiani clan who toiled day and night at different levels with diverse energies to actualise the restoration of the constituency .
Today Aniocha North state Constituency II stands as a reality ahead of 2027.A divine mandate. Unstoppable
For Idumuje/Odiani ,it is BACK TO FREEDOM!
Isioma Okafor is a Public Affairs/ Policy analyst.
