The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite the long-overdue delineation process for Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State, emphasizing the need for fairness, transparency, and justice.
In a statement signed by Comrade Nicholas Igarama (Chairman), Comrade Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo (Secretary), and Tare Magbei (Information Officer), the IYC expressed concerns over the prolonged delay, which has persisted for over seven months despite a Supreme Court ruling mandating fresh delineation.
The IYC warned that any further delay could fuel suspicions of political marginalization, particularly against the Ijaw people, who have long demanded equitable representation in Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas. The group insisted that the delineation process must reflect the true demographic and political realities of the constituency to ensure fair political participation.
The Supreme Court had, in a landmark ruling, ordered INEC to conduct a fresh delineation of all electoral wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency. The ruling was delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji in response to an appeal marked SC/413/2016, filed by George Timinimi and nine others, challenging the existing delineation structure. The judgment mandated INEC and its agents to ensure an accurate delineation process ahead of future elections.
The case dates back to a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Asaba on March 28, 2011, where the Ijaws of Warri Federal Constituency argued that INEC had failed to properly delineate electoral wards and polling units in line with the actual population distribution. The plaintiffs alleged the existence of fictitious wards and polling units, which they claimed disenfranchised their people.
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However, the delineation process has faced fresh opposition from the Itsekiri nation. Through their legal representative, Chief Robinson Ariyo, the Itsekiris filed a motion ex-parte (Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/46/2024) requesting INEC to halt the delineation until a motion on notice is determined.
Despite this legal challenge, Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court, Warri Division, rejected the Itsekiri motion, reaffirming that INEC must proceed with the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation. The ruling has now placed the electoral commission under renewed pressure to implement the court directive without bias or external interference.
The IYC urged all stakeholders, including the Delta State Government, political leaders, and traditional institutions, to support the delineation process and ensure that every ethnic group in Warri Federal Constituency gets fair representation. With growing political tension surrounding the issue, all eyes are now on INEC to uphold its constitutional duty and prevent further controversies that could destabilize the region ahead of future elections.
