Facts have emerged confirming that the Minority Leader of the 9th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, OON, actually initiated the legal battle that led to the landmark Supreme Court judgment delineating Aniocha North Constituency II in Delta State.
A legal practitioner who handled the Aniocha North Constituency II court cases that culminated in a favourable Supreme Court judgment has affirmed that Hon. Elumelu initiated the legal battle while describing the eventual victory as the product of a collective effort by members of the community.
Speaking in an interview with cshowcasenews.com, an online newspaper, the lawyer, who preferred not to be named, disclosed that Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu initiated the legal process by briefing his chambers in 2015 and remained actively committed to the cause throughout the lengthy litigation that progressed from the Federal High Court to the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court.
According to him, the case gained wider community support as it progressed, particularly at the appellate stage when prominent stakeholders and concerned community members became actively involved in pursuing the cause.
“Hon. Ndudi Elumelu was the one who briefed me at the outset of the case sometime in 2015. He also briefed us for the Court of Appeal matter and remained supportive of the cause until the end of the case at the Supreme Court, which was decided in our favour,” the lawyer said.
He noted that several notable sons and leaders of the community rallied behind the cause, contributing in various ways to the success of the legal battle and the subsequent enforcement of the judgment.
Among those he acknowledged were Senator Ned Nwoko, Prince Walter Eziashi, His Royal Majesty, Obi Charles Anyasi III, Professor G. C. Nduka, Chief Emma Eboh, Chief Nkem Okwuofu and Prince Victor Egbune, whom he described as steadfast supporters of the struggle.
The lawyer also paid glowing tribute to the late Hon. Justice Osaji, describing him as a key figure whose guidance, experience and encouragement played a significant role throughout the legal proceedings.
“Justice Osaji was very instrumental. As a senior judicial officer, he was always available to receive reports on the progress of the case and offer advice.
“His fatherly support contributed immensely to the success the community is enjoying today,” he said.
Reflecting on the outcome of the litigation, the lawyer stressed that no single individual should claim sole credit for the victory, insisting that the achievement was the result of a united effort by the community and its leaders.
“If you ask me about the success the community is enjoying today, I would say it is a communal effort. No one person can be given all the glory and no one person can be left out. It was a collective undertaking,” he stated.
While emphasizing the collective nature of the struggle, he maintained that Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu deserved recognition for initiating the legal process by engaging legal representation and pursuing the matter from its inception.
He further recalled that following the Supreme Court victory, Elumelu leveraged his position as Minority Leader in the House of Representatives to pursue the implementation of the judgment through legislative channels.
He nevertheless maintained that while many individuals and groups contributed significantly to the eventual success of the cause, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu’s role in initiating the legal process and sustaining efforts toward the enforcement of the judgment remains a matter of public record.
According to available records, shortly after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in 2019, Rt. Hon. Elumelu sponsored a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the judgment and conduct a by-election for the newly delineated constituency.
The motion received the support of the House and culminated in a resolution directing INEC to take the necessary steps to give effect to the Supreme Court decision.
Consequently, INEC in 2020 convened a stakeholders’ meeting at the Unity Hall in Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area, to deliberate on the implementation process. At the meeting, stakeholders reportedly agreed that a by-election should be conducted for Aniocha North Constituency II.
However, the implementation process was later delayed as INEC suspended action on the constituency owing to unresolved electoral and delineation issues affecting some other constituencies across the country, including those in Warri Federal Constituency and adjoining areas.
With many of those outstanding issues now resolved, as well as the renewed legislative attention that later came in 2025 through a motion sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko on the floor of the Senate, which reawakened national attention to the matter and reinforced earlier resolutions passed by the House of Representatives in support of implementing the Supreme Court judgment, the electoral commission took steps to include the affected constituencies, including Aniocha North Constituency II, in preparations for the 2027 general elections.
It is also on record that following the Supreme Court judgment in 2019 and the subsequent efforts toward its implementation, a delegation of leaders and residents from Idumuje/Odiani communities paid a courtesy visit to Rt. Hon. Elumelu at his residence in Onicha-Uku to express appreciation for his role in the struggle.
The delegation, which included traditional rulers such as His Royal Majesty, Obi Ayo Isinyemeze; Obi of Ugbodu, His Royal Majesty, Obi Charles Anyasi III, Obi of Idumuje-Unor and other prominent community leaders, commended Elumelu for his commitment and contributions towards the realization of Aniocha North Constituency II.
