Leaders of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality have formally rejected the proposed delineation of wards, polling units, and state constituencies, as well as the creation of an additional federal constituency in Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission. They allege the exercise is riddled with constitutional, legal, and technical violations.
Speaking at a press conference in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, the leaders accused INEC of relying on defective fieldwork and contested Geographic Information System mapping data in the report released on May 20, 2026. While affirming their support for the Supreme Court judgment that ordered a fresh delineation in Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas, they insisted the implementation was flawed.
The conference was jointly addressed by Chief Edward Ekpoko, Prince Yemi Emiko, Sir A.S. Mene, Alex Eyengho, and Chief Robinson Ariyo, representing the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality. They stressed they are not opposed to democratic inclusion or electoral reforms but argued the proposal violates the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC’s own guidelines.
The leaders stated: “The Itsekiri people are not opposed to lawful electoral reforms, democratic inclusion or constitutional compliance. We fully respect the Supreme Court judgment. However, we firmly reject the proposed delineation because it violates constitutional provisions, disregards the Electoral Act, breaches INEC guidelines, and relies on deeply flawed fieldwork and GIS mapping.”
Independent geographic experts who reviewed INEC’s data reportedly found polling units located outside legal local government boundaries, including some in rivers, swamps, and uninhabitable areas. Some proposed units were allegedly mapped beyond Delta State into Edo and Ondo states, while others crossed local government lines.
In Warri South-West, the review identified 1,798 registration area polygons, with hundreds submerged in water, duplicated, or outside the council. Some were credited to Ijaw communities, allegedly distorting demographic distribution. In Warri North, dozens of polygons were placed outside Delta State boundaries.
The group accused INEC of insufficient fieldwork in Itsekiri communities like Ubeji, Omadino, Ifie, Egbokodo, Orugbo, Ode-Itsekiri, McDermott, Ajigba, Inorin, Ugbodede, Usele, Ajatiton, and Ifie Kporo, despite their population size. They argued the exercise should rely on the 2023 voter register, not “manufactured mapping.”
According to their position paper, Warri North had 110,392 registered voters and 192 polling units in 2023, while Warri South-West had 187,116 voters and 332 units. They alleged some wards were created with few polling units, while larger communities were grouped into fewer wards. For instance, proposed wards in Ogbe-Ijoh used seven polling units, while Orere and Ugborodo had more units per ward.
They also faulted proposed wards like Bolou-Ama and Ewein in Warri South, claiming these settlements are not indigenous and some assigned polling units belong to Warri South-West communities.
Beyond the delineation, the leaders condemned media attacks by some Ijaw and Urhobo groups against President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, accusing certain groups from Gbaramatu Kingdom of sponsoring inflammatory rhetoric. They called for lawful resolution and warned against violence.
“We condemn any threats to peace, public infrastructure and regional stability. All parties must respect the rule of law,” they said.
The leaders support creating additional state constituencies in Warri North and Warri South-West, and an extra federal constituency in Warri Federal Constituency, provided the process is constitutional. They urged the federal government to investigate the exercise and INEC to suspend reliance on disputed data pending independent verification. They also called on security agencies to ensure transparency.
Their proposed fair resolution, based on the 2023 voter register, suggests expanding six Itsekiri wards and four Ijaw wards in Warri North and Warri South-West to 12 Itsekiri and eight Ijaw wards each.
