The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo communities in Warri Federal Constituency have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to respect a Supreme Court order regarding the redrawing of polling units and electoral wards in the area. They warned that this could disrupt the 2027 elections in the constituency.
During a press conference in Effurun, Delta State, representatives expressed frustration over INEC’s delay in publishing and implementing the final delineation report, which was presented as a draft to stakeholders in April 2025. The group, led by Chief Victor Okumagba and High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, argued that the commission’s inaction undermines the apex court’s directive in Suit No. SC/413/2016, which mandated a fresh delineation to address irregularities like fictitious wards and imbalanced voter distribution.
The stakeholders noted that the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, without the delineation being finalized, violates the Supreme Court judgment. They asserted that any electoral activities based on the current flawed structure could be rendered invalid. The group also highlighted that the dispute traces back to historical grievances, including flaws in the 1999 electoral framework that sparked past conflicts among Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri communities in Warri.
They pointed to INEC’s own 1998–1999 report, which acknowledged lapses in ward delineation. The delay in implementing the report raises suspicions of external interference and institutional compromise, they said, warning that this could erode public trust and disenfranchise indigenous people in the 2027 elections. The group called on INEC to release and implement the report immediately to ensure fairness and compliance with the Supreme Court. They also urged the federal government, civil society, and the international community to intervene to protect democratic processes and prevent renewed conflict.
INEC had not responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.