India, March 13 -- The group, comprising traditional rulers, academics, retired military officers and civil society advocates, made the call on Friday, stressing that the supremacy of the INC constitution must guide every step of the ongoing election arrangements.

The coalition, drawn from across the Niger Delta and Ijaw communities in the diaspora, made its position known in a joint statement endorsed by more than 30 stakeholders. The statement was led by Chief Bukazi Etete, Elder Roland Ekperi, High Chief Amagbe Denzil Kentebe, and Dame Ann Kio Briggs, among others.

In the communique, the leaders appealed to the electoral authorities overseeing the process to ensure that "every procedural step complies strictly with constitutional pro...