WARRI DELINEATION: Itsekiri leaders fault INEC’s fresh proposals

Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILOT, has faulted the fresh delineation of wards, polling units and state constituencies proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for Warri Federal Constituency.

ILOT described the process that produced the proposal as fraudulent, saying the fieldwork and GIS mapping conducted by INEC did not comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC’s own guidelines for the delineation of wards and polling units.

Secretary of ILOT, Sir Amorighoye Mene, in a statement, said the Itsekiri reject INEC’s recommendations.

The statement reads: “ILOT hereby rejects the new proposed fresh delineation of wards, polling units, state constituencies and one additional federal constituency in warri arising from the fieldwork and GIS mapping conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released on May 20 in Asaba Delta State.

“While we welcome the creation of two additional state constituencies and one federal constituency the devil is in the details/composition. The composition is based on the earlier rejected fraudulent data released by INEC on April 4, 2025, at Asaba in Delta State.

“Our position is based on our firm conviction that the exercise, as presently conducted, does not comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC’s own guidelines for the delineation of wards and polling units.

“While we acknowledge the judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/143/2016 directing INEC to conduct a fresh delineation exercise in Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas, we must clearly state that the Supreme Court did not declare the existing wards, polling units, or voter register as fake or fictitious.

“We are deeply concerned that INEC, in the course of its field operations and GIS mapping, appears to have exceeded its constitutional mandate by engaging in activities outside its electoral responsibilities, including the identification and recognition of communities, demographic interpretations, and territorial classifications. We maintain that INEC’s role is strictly administrative and electoral, not ethnographic or territorial.

“We further reject any attempt to rely on unofficial population estimates, aerial mapping interpretations, or artificially created community structures as the basis for electoral delineation. Any process that departs from constitutionally recognized data and lawful electoral procedures undermines the integrity and credibility of the democratic process.

“We also consider it necessary to correct the false narrative that the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups in Warri Federal Constituency have been denied political representation. The political history of the constituency clearly demonstrates that both ethnic groups have occupied and continue to occupy significant political offices across Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas.

“Furthermore, findings presented by independent geographic information and survey experts reveal major inconsistencies in the proposed polling unit coordinates released by INEC. According to these findings, several polling units were allegedly located outside their designated local government areas, while others reportedly fall within rivers, swamps, forests, Edo State, Ondo State, and other non-habitable locations.

“These findings raise serious questions about the credibility, legality, and technical integrity of the exercise. Accordingly, we call on the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate the conduct of the delineation exercise and hold accountable any officials found to have compromised the integrity of the process. “We have already submitted our formal objections to INEC and the Office of the National Security Adviser, and we expect those concerns to be treated with the seriousness they deserve.

“Finally, we condemn any threat to peace, security, or national infrastructure in response to this process. We urge all stakeholders to pursue lawful, peaceful, and democratic engagement while INEC concludes consultations and reaches a final decision.

“We remain committed to fairness, constitutional order, justice, and the peaceful coexistence of all ethnic nationalities within the Warri Federal Constituency.”

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