By Emmanuel Ogoigbe, Warri
Protesting members of Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri, Delta State, have warned the Presidency not to reignite ethnic tensions that sparked bloodshed which shook the oil city several years ago.
Accusing the Presidency of interfering in the implementation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s final report on the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and constituencies in Warri federal constituency, they warned of consequences, if Abuja fails to hands off the matter.
Addressing journalists in Warri today, the protesters, who read from a statement, alleged that the delay in implementing the delineation report released by INEC on 20 May, 2026, poses a serious threat to the rule of law, democratic governance, and political stability in the constituency.
The statement, dated 1 June, 2026, was signed by Chief Godspower Gbenekame, on behalf of the Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri federal constituency.
The protesters expressed shock that more than 10 days after INEC presented its final delineation report to stakeholders in Asaba and announced plans for its immediate implementation, no concrete steps had been taken to operationalize the recommendations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the group, the electoral body had created 20 registration areas and electoral wards across Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas (LGAs), while also establishing two additional state constituencies in Warri North and Warri South-West to enhance representation.
The protesters recalled that INEC’s National Commissioner, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Tukur Yusuf, who represented the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, during the presentation of the report, had assured stakeholders, representing all ethnic nationalities and others in Warri, that political parties would be directed to commence primaries for the newly created constituencies without delay due to the tight electoral timetable.
However, they alleged that implementation had stalled because of what they described as external interference from the Presidency.
“We have it on good authority that INEC’s failure to immediately implement the report is as a result of directives from the Presidency to put the implementation on hold,” the protesters claimed.
The group condemned the alleged interference, describing it as an attack on the 1999 Constitution (as amended), judicial authority and democratic principles.
They argued that INEC is constitutionally independent and not subject to the control or direction of the President, stressing that judgments of the Supreme Court are final and binding on all authorities and institutions in the country.
The protesters further alleged that claims of security concerns raised to justify the implementation delay were being used as a pretext to alter the outcome of the delineation exercise in favour of the Itsekiri ethnic group.
According to them, the appropriate response to any security threat would be to address those responsible rather than suspend the implementation of an entire Supreme Court judgment.
The group maintained that the delineation exercise had already made significant concessions to the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, citing increases in the number of electoral wards allocated to Itsekiri communities in both Warri North and Warri South-West LGAs.
Apparently embittered, they warned against any attempt to alter the final report submitted by INEC, insisting that all subsequent electoral activities in Warri federal constituency must be conducted strictly in line with the delineation outcome presented to stakeholders.
The protesters particularly called on INEC to immediately direct political parties to conduct primaries for the newly-created state constituencies, arguing that communities expected to benefit from the new arrangements were eager to participate in the democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.
Drawing parallels with historical disputes in the Warri area, the group cautioned against actions capable of reigniting ethnic tensions and crises and urged authorities to uphold the rule of law by implementing the Supreme Court judgment without further delay.
*PHOTO CAPTION: A cross section of the protesters… today.
