By Emmanuel Ekebe
On the 10th of June, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a release signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, its National Commissioner and Committee chairman on Information and Voter Education listing four Sates where hitherto benched or suspended state constituencies have been restored. The release gave time line for concerned parties to conduct their party primaries accordingly.
Painfully vexing, the much anticipated Isoko North constituency II was not included in the restored Six (6) in Delta State.
This is clearly brazen injustice and inexplicable affront on the Isoko people once again. This is just another insult too many.
The Isoko nation has overtime suffered so many marginalization and demeaning treatment in this wobbling defective contraption of country.
Is it the denial of fair share from the stupendous oil wealth being tapped from our land, the exclusion from Federal appointments or the non-recognition in the establishment of Federal Institutions except police stations?
No light, No Federal presence, No justice, and No empathy!
To add insult to injury, out of the six (6) restored state constituencies in Delta State and indeed nation wide, NONE has more population, oil & gas and mineral resources more than the denied Isoko North Constituency II.
In fact, the Isoko Nation used to have two federal constituencies which was also suspended since the beginning of this democratic dispensation in spite of our population, geographical size and humongous human and natural resource tapped into the nation’s common wealth.
Obviously, the docility of the Isoko people is being taken for granted and this must be resisted with all vehemence and temerity henceforth.
With this ignominious affront by INEC, I think we should rise now in unison to demand our rights if we must remain in this ill-fated ship called the Nigerian State.
In executing our modus operandi for the immediate reinstatement of the Isoko North Constituency II and the second Isoko Federal Constituency, Senator Joel Onowakpor and Jonathan Ajiroghene Ukodhiko along side their counterparts at the Delta State House of Assembly should quickly put on their thinking caps and expeditiously move “matters of urgent public importance” at the respective Chambers for the ratification of the suspended constituencies.
Back home, mass rallies, protests and consultations should be activated by the IDU, while the CSOs, Student Unions, Youth bodies and others should also open all the salvos within and outside media platforms to advocate justice for the Isoko people.
Furthermore, if the various interface and protests don’t bring positive results in the next two weeks, then we may need to change gears to option B, C and even D.
Should there be further deviance or recalcitrance by the relevant authorities, then all Isoko flow stations and oil facilities may have to go down while all roads into and out of the Isoko nation will be closed to drive home our demands. We should hit the iron when it is very hot.
And the cash phrase of the road map is that: “Isoko needs light, Isoko North constituency II, Isoko Second Federal Constituency and Isoko Federal Tertiary Institution”; otherwise, No Campaign for 2027 in Isoko land.
As it has been, a goat driven to the wall will definitely fight back and Isoko people are now pressed to the wall.
Therefore, let the power that be act now, as a Stich in time Saves Nine.
Finally, the times are precarious with ominous signs of deep disaffection and when the voice of reason speaks, it beholds on the wise to listen to the oracle; otherwise, when the falcon can no longer hear the falconer, then the things will fall apart and the centre will not hold! God bless Isoko Land.
