The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo People of Warri Federal Constituency have said they would explore all possible means to ensure the 2027 general election does not hold in the Constituency.
The two ethnic groups were responding to the lackadaisical posture of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards implementing its reports on Wards delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Addressing a press conference on Monday in Warri, the people
rejected the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise in the Constituency, insisting that it remained illegal
until INEC implements the existing reports on Wards delineation in the Constituency.
They said that the Supreme Court judgement of Dec. 2, 2022 ordered INEC to conduct fresh delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency.
The text of the press briefing was signed by stakeholders from the two ethnic groups.
Among the signatories were: Dr Joel Bisina, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye,
Rev. Samuel Ako, Chief Vero Tangbavei
Mrs Margaret Ikinbor,
Chief Wilson Ogbodu, Chief Sylvester Okumagba,
Chief Emmanuel Sekondi among others.
They recalled that a
Supreme Court judgement
rearticulated the fact that INEC which was
statutorily empowered to delineate local governments in
Nigeria into wards and units did not properly delineate the Warri South-West, Warri South and Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta State in accordance with
statutory requirements.
According to them, the Court observed that failure of INEC to deliberately carry out its statutory duty in this regard has led to a series of irregularity in the process of voter’s registration which in
turn will affect the outcome of any future elections negatively.
They said that it was on these basis that the Supreme Court ordered INEC, its agents, servants, privies and assigns to
conduct a fresh delineation of all the electoral
wards/polling units for Warri South-West, Warri North and
Warri South Local Government Areas of Warri Federal
Constituency in Delta State for the purpose of future
elections.
“In compliance with the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation, INEC held several critical stakeholders meetings
on Feb. 2, 2023 with representatives of the indigenous ethnic groups in Asaba.
“The meeting was to inform stakeholders of the judgement delivered in George Timinimi & Nine ors Vs the INEC and pleaded that they should be allowed to complete the 2023 electoral process which had started before the judgement was
delivered.
“A follow-up stakeholders meeting was held on April 4,
2023 where presentations were made on the guidelines for the field exercise by INEC.
“The meeting culminated
into weeks of stakeholders and INEC field works upon which a report was presented to stakeholders on April 4, 2025, in Asaba, for review, with an expected
proofread version incorporating minor corrections,” they said.
The ethnic groups noted that a year after
the presentation, INEC had not published the
final report, rather, it had decided to commence a future
election process in gross violation of the Supreme Court Judgement.
They expressed the belief that INEC’s compromised to selfish external influences had delayed the release and implementation
of the crucial report which of course was vital to defining and enhancing
the democratic participation of the indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri Federal Constituency.
“Apparently, INEC has been compromised by some conservative forces bent on sustaining minority rule over the majority in Warri territory,” they said.
The people posited that the Supreme Court ordered judgement upon INEC to delineate fresh wards and units in Warri Federal
Constituency presupposes that hitherto existed wards
were flawed and does not satisfy statutory requirements for credible future elections.
“That in the Supreme Court ordered judgement on INEC,
the operative words are to “Conduct Fresh Delineation” in the eyes
of the law, there are no longer in existence
electoral wards and units in Warri until the fresh exercise
is concluded.
“Also, it is criminal, illegal and contemptuous of the
Supreme Court judgement by INEC, proceeding with the
registration of voters in Warri Federal Constituency as
there are no longer in existence electoral wards and units
upon which the ongoing voter’s registration can stand,” they said.
They accused INEC of insincerity, noting that the development would deny them effective participation and representation in the forth-coming general election.
They urged INEC to immediately release and implement the report painstakingly embarked upon by stakeholders, declaring that they cannot remain idle and watch their democratic rights and franchise being fretted away by the nation’s electoral umpire.