Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency …Mix-Up in Name Caused By INEC Since 1999. Problem Pre-dates Dakuku’s Present Era, says Hon. Jefferies Owor

The member of the House of Representatives for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2007, Hon. Jefferies Owor, has absolved the present member, Hon. Dakuku Peterside of any blames regarding the mix-up in the constituency’s name. Hon. Owor placed the blame at the doorstep of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a press release personally signed by the former lawmaker emailed to NF-Reports, Owor said: “For the past four months, I have observed with dismay, the negative manner in which some persons, especially of Andoni ethnic nationality are going about the error observed in the name of our constituency.”

Continuing, Hon. Owor stated: “Hon. Dakuku Peterside should not be blamed or accused for the error observed in the name of our constituency. I also saw it that way in Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) records, when I assumed office [in 1999]. However, I did take it up with INEC and it was corrected; but the mistake kept repeating itself.”

“I understand that stakeholders are seriously working together to ensure that the error is urgently corrected permanently,” Owor stated.

Hon. Owor, therefore, appealed to the people of the federal constituency to close ranks and work for the unity and progress of the area.

It would be recalled that an error by the INEC since 1999 has led to ‘Andoni’ disappearing on some official government documents sometimes. This error has continued to rear its ugly head despite the best efforts of the past and present occupiers of the constituency seat at the House of Representatives since 1999 to effect a correction.

Despite the meticulous explanation made by the former lawmaker during the occasion of the send forth party held for 10 post graduate students of the federal constituency to study in various UK universities by Hon Dakuku Peterside, some mischief makers have continued to misinform the people for ulterior reasons. Last week, one Ugwem Oga Fingesi claiming to be the President of the National Union of Andoni Students had repeated the charge on a Port Harcourt based radio station, Love 97.7 FM deliberately blaming the mix-up on the present lawmaker representing the area, Hon. Dakuku Peterside.