BY DR NORBERT CHIAZOR
Aniocha North constituency II was originally created in 1991. It took effect in 1992 with the late Hon. Chinakwe serving as its pioneer representative in the Delta State House of Assembly.
Aniocha North constituency II comprises Idumuje and Odiani clans ,encompassing nine communities- Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, Nkwu-Nzu, Ugboba, Ugbodu, Idumuogo, Ubulubu, Ogodor and Anioma in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta state.
But it ceased to exist on November 17, 1993 following General Sani Abacha coup which swept away democracy and dissolved all elected structures across the country.
When civil rule returned in 1999 ,the then National Electoral Commission suppressed the constituency and subsumed it into a single constituency known as Aniocha North.
In 2014, the constituent communities launched legal battles against the electoral commission, waging an unrelenting crusade to reclaim what they considered their constitutional and democratic birthright.
The Federal High Court however, dismissed the suit filed by indigenes of the communities – Hon. Emmanuel Eboh, Mr. Anthony Okolie and Mr. Sunday Okenyi, represented by Habeeb Lawal, legal team. But justice came on November 22, 2017. The Court of Appeal (Benin Division) ordered the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) to immediately restore the constituency and conduct elections.
INEC rejected the judgment and headed to the Supreme Court. On November 29, 2019, Nigeria’s apex Court upheld the Court of Appeal decision as conclusive and irrevocable.
Traditional rulers and community leaders of Idumuje and Odiani clans subsequently petitioned the then INEC Chairman,Professor Mamood Yakubu, drawing attention to the commission’s refusal to implement the Supreme Court judgment.
A year later in 2020 ,INEC hosted a stakeholders’s meeting on the restoration of Aniocha North constituency II. But the gathering ended as a smokescreen. Nothing happened. No action followed.
The verdict remained in limbo. The twin clans of Idumuje and Odiani stood hands akimbo ,disenfranchised,disillusioned. Like Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett ‘s absurdist drama, they waited endlessly for the mysterious Godot.
Yet, the people’s search for human meaning seemed an illusion.
In March 2025, Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North senatorial district emerged the game changer.
His motion titled “Restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency Pursuant to Supreme Court Judgment,” reverberated across the senate floor. Swiftly, the Red Chamber resolved that INEC should comply with the judgment and restore the constituency without further delay.
Senator Thomas Joel-Onowakpo of Delta South would then echo the pivotal advocacy of Ned, urging the restoration of other constituencies similarly suppressed by INEC, particularly within the Isoko axis.
Today , it is a win -win development. Ahead of 2027, INEC has directed political parties to conduct primaries in at least six state constituencies across Delta State, as well as in Benue, Jigawa and Kogi,
For the people of Idumuje and Odiani clans of Aniocha North Constituency II, the triumph is nothing short of historic. Homecoming of representation.
Reminiscent of the pulsating song of legendary South African crooner, Brenda Fassie:
“Viva,my people, back to freedom! “
Dr. Chiazor is a veteran Journalist/ Media leader
ANIOCHA NORTH CONSTITUENCY II: HOW A 32-YEAR STRUGGLE ENDED IN TRIUMPH
