WARRI/Nigeria: The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri Federal Constituency have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of disobeying a Supreme Court judgment mandating a fresh delineation of electoral wards in the area, warning that the commission’s actions risk undermining democracy in Delta State.
At a world press conference held in Asaba, leaders of the two ethnic nationalities alleged that INEC’s decision to proceed with the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise without completing the court-ordered delineation was “criminal, illegal and contemptuous.”
They recalled that the apex court, in its December 2, 2022 judgment in Suit No. SC/413/2016 between Hon. George U. Timinimi and others versus INEC, ordered the commission to conduct a fresh delineation of wards and polling units in Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South-West local government areas, following evidence that fictitious wards had been created and voter registration had, in some cases, been carried out in private homes.
“The Supreme Court made it clear that the existing wards were flawed and failed to meet statutory requirements for credible elections. In the eyes of the law, there are no longer valid electoral wards and units in Warri until a fresh delineation is concluded,” the leaders declared.
They accused INEC of deliberately delaying the release of the final report of its delineation exercise despite multiple stakeholders’ meetings and fieldwork. According to them, a draft report was presented on April 4, 2025, in Asaba, with only minor corrections pending, yet five months later the commission has refused to publish the final document.
“Instead of implementing the judgment and releasing the final report, INEC has chosen to commence a new voter registration exercise in Warri. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand,” the group stated, citing Lord Denning’s famous dictum in the 1963 UAC vs McToy case.
The leaders also linked INEC’s earlier failures in Warri to past conflicts, recalling the ethnic crises of 1997–1999 and 2002–2003 between Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri groups, which they argued were triggered by lopsided electoral ward creation. They pointed to INEC’s own post-election report in 1999, which admitted that previous ward delineations had been manipulated to satisfy “selfish interests.”
Quoting the late legal icon Chief Gani Fawehinmi, they said: “Believe it or not, INEC is far gone on the path of bringing disaster to our beloved country that, it is very doubtful if it can turn back.”
The group insisted that democracy in Warri Federal Constituency cannot be protected without full compliance with the Supreme Court ruling. “INEC should immediately release and implement the painstakingly prepared delineation report. We shall not idly stand by and watch our democratic rights and franchise frittered away by INEC’s lawlessness and disastrous irresponsibility,” they warned.
The statement was jointly signed by prominent leaders including Olorogun Victor Okumagba, Hon. Deinbofa Oweikpodor, Dr. Joel Bisina, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Rev. Samuel Ako, Chief Emmanuel Sekondi, Hon. Frank Pukon, Amb. Jude Ebitimi Ukori, Chief David Reje, Comrade (Mrs.) Margaret Ikinbor, Chief Monday Keme, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Sylvester Femi Okumagba, Chief Wilson Ogbodu and Chief Mrs. Ann Gagiyovwi.
