Implement INEC Report On Warri Delineation Now To Avert Another Round Of Warri Crisis, Urhobos, Ijaws Warn

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Victor Okpomor

Ijaw and Urhobo protesters numbering hundreds on Monday took to the streets of Warri, Delta State, accusing the Presidency of allegedly interfering with the implementation of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final report on the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency.

The protesters, who carried placards and chanted solidarity songs warned the President Bola Tinubu government to act now to avert a repeat of Warri crisis of 1997 to 2003 over relocation of Local Government headquarter.

According to them, “it would be recalled that relocation of a Local Government Headquarters from an Ijaw community to an Itsekiri community led to the unfortunate Warri crisis of1997 to 2003. We must avoid the repeat of the past. A word is enough for the wise.”

They said that they were compelled to address the Nigerian public and the international community over “growing threat to the rule of law and democracy arising from the delay in implementing the delineation report presented by INEC on May 20, 2026.”

Addressing journalists in Warri, the protesters recalled that INEC had formally presented its final report on the fresh delineation exercise to stakeholders in Asaba, Delta State, with assurances that the outcome would be implemented immediately ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

According to them, the report, presented by INEC National Commissioner, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Tukur Yusuf, who represented the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, created a total of 20 Registration Areas/Electoral Wards across Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas.

They noted that INEC also announced the creation of two additional State Constituencies in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas to enhance political representation in the area.

The protesters said the electoral body further indicated that, due to the limited time available before the 2027 elections, political parties would be directed to conduct primaries for candidates seeking election into the newly created constituencies.

However, they expressed disappointment that more than 10 days after the presentation of the report, implementation had yet to commence.

They added, “we are shocked that ten days after INEC presented its final report and promised immediate implementation, nothing has been done. The deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 elections is fast approaching, yet the Commission has not taken any concrete step towards implementing its own report.”

The protesters alleged that information available to them suggested that external pressure from the Presidency was responsible for the delay.
They argued that any attempt by the Presidency to influence or halt the implementation of the delineation report would amount to a violation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing the independence of INEC.

The protesters, Section 158 of the 1999 Constitution provides that INEC shall not be subject to the direction or control of any authority in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.

They also cited Section 287 of the Constitution, which makes the decisions of the Supreme Court binding on all authorities and persons throughout the country.

According to them, “the judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/413/2016 is final. No arm of Government has the constitutional authority to suspend or frustrate its implementation. Any attempt to do so constitutes an attack on the rule of law and democratic governance. Security concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser is only a subterfuge by the Presidency to alter the final report to favour the Itsekiri ethnic group.”

They maintained that if any individual or group was threatening public peace, security agencies should deal with such persons rather than prevent compliance with a valid court judgment.

The protesters also traced the current dispute to longstanding political and ethnic disagreements in the Warri area, arguing that previous government actions had contributed to tensions among the various ethnic nationalities in the region.

Speaking on behalf of the Urhobos, Chief Femi Okumagba, a prominent Urhobo leader appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the INEC Chairman and the National Security Adviser to ensure that the final report was implemented without further delay.

Chief Okumagba said that the international community was closely monitoring developments surrounding the Warri delineation exercise and urged all authorities involved to uphold the rule of law.

According to Chief Okumagba, “we are appealing to the President, INEC Chairman and the NSA to do the needful. Let INEC perform its constitutional responsibilities without interference. Democracy thrives on the rule of law, and the rule of law must prevail in Warri Federal Constituency”.

While insisting that the protesters remained committed to peace, he warned that prolonged delay could create unnecessary tension among communities that had largely remained calm throughout the legal and administrative processes leading to the delineation exercise.

Also speaking, Chief Godspower Gbenakama, Fiowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom representative said that the people had demonstrated patience since the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in 2022.

According to him, several court actions challenging the delineation process had already been dismissed, leaving no legal obstacle to implementation.

He added, “we waited patiently when INEC requested more time. We participated in the field exercise. Several court cases filed against the process were dismissed. The final report has been presented. There is no reason why implementation should not commence immediately”.

He noted that the newly created State Constituency in Warri North was expected to provide long-awaited political representation for communities in Egbema Kingdom and urged the Commission to allow political parties to begin the process of nominating candidates.

Another Ijaw Leader, Mr Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor warned against any attempt to amend the final report, recalling that previous political decisions relating to administrative structures in the Warri area had contributed to violent conflicts in the past, adding, “we are urging the Federal Government and INEC to avoid actions capable of reigniting old grievances that might lead to another round of Warri crisis.”

The protesters maintained that all future electoral activities in Warri Federal Constituency, including party primaries and preparations for the 2027 general elections, must be conducted strictly on the basis of the final delineation report released by INEC on May 20.