Itsekiri Leaders Oppose INEC’s Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Proposal
The Itsekiri Council of Thought Leaders (ILoT) has officially rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) proposal for delineating the Warri federal constituency. The council argues that the proposal is premised on unreliable data, which they categorize as fraudulent.
Prominent figures within the Itsekiri community contend that the recent delineation efforts—covering wards, polling stations, state constituencies, and additional federal constituencies proposed by the Warri Federal Constituency Electoral Management Authority—are founded on previously discredited data distributed by INEC in Asaba, Delta State, on April 4, 2025.
ILoT maintains that the field survey and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping conducted by INEC, presented during a meeting with stakeholders on May 20, fails to adhere to the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act of 2026, and INEC’s own guidelines regarding ward and voting unit boundaries.
In a press statement, Sir Amorigoye Sunny Mene, Secretary of the Itsekiri Thought Leadership Council, emphasized the Itsekiri leadership’s firm stance against using unofficial population estimates, aerial map interpretations, or fabricated community structures as criteria for drawing electoral lines. He reaffirmed the community’s rejection of the new delineation proposal stemming from recent surveys and maps by INEC.
While ILoT acknowledges the potential benefits of creating two additional state constituencies and one federal constituency, they express concerns about the foundational data underpinning these changes. “The details of this construction are troubling as they rely on previously rejected data,” the council stated.
The group highlighted the Supreme Court’s prior ruling in Suit No. SC/143/2016, which mandated INEC to conduct a new delineation in Warri South, Warri South West, and Warri North local government areas. However, they noted that the court did not invalidate existing wards, polling stations, or voter rolls.
ILoT criticized INEC for seemingly exceeding its constitutional role by engaging in activities beyond electoral management, such as demographic interpretation and territorial classification during fieldwork. This divergence from established protocols raises concerns about the legality and integrity of the delineation process.
Additionally, ILoT refutes claims that the Ijaw and Urhobo communities in the Warri Federal Constituency are being politically marginalized. Historical political positions held by individuals from both groups affirm their active participation in local governance across the affected local government areas.
Independent research has revealed significant inconsistencies in the proposed polling station coordinates released by INEC. These discrepancies include polling stations listed in inaccessible areas, such as rivers and uninhabited regions, prompting further scrutiny regarding the data’s reliability and technical accuracy.
ILoT is calling for a thorough investigation into the delineation process and accountability for officials who may have jeopardized its integrity. They have already lodged formal complaints with INEC and the Office of the National Security Adviser, urging that these grievances receive appropriate attention.
