The Supreme Court has adviced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delineate wards in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State for future elections.
Justice Inyang Okoro in a lead judgement delivered on Friday over an appeal by INEC against representatives of Bakassi LGA, who were displaced from the original areas now ceded to Republic of Cameroon, held that the people of Bakassi had suffered enough and urged the electoral umpire to "do the needful" in ameliorating their plight by delineating areas in the council.
Those joined as respondents in the appeal are: Muri Asuquo, Chiefs Antigha Cobham, Bassey Ekpenyong Etim and Effiong Iyam who had instituted the case at the lower courts on behalf of Ikanga, Esighi, Antigha Ene Eyo and Edihi Idim Ikot Eyi Clans of Bakassi LGA.
They had in their argument asked the Supreme Court to uphold the February 2012 judgments of a Federal High Court and a Court of Appeal which were in their favour, and dismiss the appeal that was filed by INEC.
The people of Bakassi had gone to court to compel INEC to recognise and conduct elections based on the boundaries adjustment by the Cross River State House of Assembly which was in line with Law No 7 of Cross River State 2007.
The lower courts in it’s verdict ordered the INEC to conduct elections in ten (10) new wards of Bakassi that were created from the old three (3) Ikanga Wards in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state.
"All we are saying in this judgment is that INEC should take steps to do the needful. The people of Bakassi have suffered more than enough, and that their own representation should not be tampered with. INEC should do something as soon as possible at least to make them feel that they (Bakassi) belong," Justice Okoro said.
