Asaba—THE Okpanam community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to look into the possibility of creating additional nine wards before the 2015 general elections in view of the increase in the population of the state since its creation to avoid disenfranchisement of many Deltans.

It noted that the only existing ward is inadequate as the population of the community has increased following the influx of persons, especially civil servants, who now live in neigbouring Okpanam town due to overflow from Asaba, the state capital.

The community in a letter to the INEC chairman by its traditional ruler, HRM Michael Ogbolu, Ugo Ani of Okpanam and Diokpas (heads of quarters) and others, said: “We bring to your notice our grief based on the fact that our communities were excluded in the recent units/ward survey conducted by your office.

“Since the creation of Delta State in 1991, our communities have played host to government workers and businessmen. Since 1991 our communities have played host to government workers and businessmen. The Delta State crisis of the 1990s created opportunities for all Deltans and Nigerians, especially those from Central and South senatorial districts of Delta State, who acquired land and built houses in our communities.”

“Today, the stock of houses in our communities have increased by about 1000 percent, hence the increase in population in our communities. The last unit creation and ward delineation in our communities was in 1998, when development was restricted to the old communities.

“We, hereby graciously request the Chairman to use his good offices to ensure that our people feel and know it is democracy and are not undermined in the 2015 general elections. The communities have taking it upon themselves to do electronic mapping of our communities and national coordinates of the old and proposed new units for your perusal and confirmation. We appeal that you create nine wards for Okpanam/Ugbolu communities.”