By Felix Ekwu
Urhobo People Integrity Organisation, UPIO, says it will not relent in ensuring the restoration of the Second Sapele constituency.
President-General of the organisation, Dr Ebenezer Okorodudu stated this at the Second Sapele State Constituency stakeholders meeting convened by the member representing Sapele Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Felix Anirah, which was held at the Amukpe Community hall in Amukpe Sapele.
Top among the stakeholders in attendance were Chief Godwin Daddy, Chief Margaret Unukegwho, Mr Richard Randy Okotie, President Elume Community, Dr Patrick Akamovba, Chairman Sapele/Okpe Community, Dennis Odebala, Member Delta State House of Assembly Commission, Sunny Ebireri, Hon Festus Pemu and Chief Austin Atiti.
Dr Okorodudu while briefing the stakeholders and other indigenes of Sapele Local Government Area said the struggle to achieve a second constituency for the area began in 2013 and in 2018 the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba ruled in favour of Sapele people.
Not satisfied with the judgement, he said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, appealed the judgement but was dismissed by the Appeal Court in 2019 which ordered INEC to constitute the Second Sapele State Constituency.
While insisting that the Delta State House of Assembly would not be properly constituted if the second Sapele Constituency that makes it the 30th is not included, Dr Okorodudu called on the entire people of Sapele Council Area to join hands with the Urhobo People Integrity Organisation to achieve their right.
He commended Hon Felix Anirah for convening the meeting and the Orodje of Okpe, Orhue 1, for their immense support towards the successes recorded so far.
The Convener, Hon Felix Anirah, thanked the Urhobo People Integrity Organisation for its efforts and expressed optimism that at the Supreme Court the judgement would still be in favour of the people of Sapele.
Hon Anirah disclosed that he will soon call for a stakeholder meeting to discuss the way forward to achieve a positive result from what they have started on how to get the Sapele second Constituency.
Dr Patrick Akamovba and others who spoke at the meeting pledged their continued support for the actualisation of a second Sapele State Constituency urging for broadening of the chain of communication on developments as they unfold.
The highpoint of the meeting was the official handing over of the court judgements to the convener, Hon Felix Anirah by Dr Ebenezer Okorodudu.
It was unanimously agreed that the stakeholders should reconvene in a month’s time.
