Over the weekend, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented its report on the delineation of wards and polling units within the Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State to representatives from the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups.
This recent delineation work was initiated following the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling, which mandated INEC to undertake this exercise.
The report was shared at a stakeholders meeting held in Asaba, the state capital, where it was presented by the INEC State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren. Key representatives—Chief Victor Okumagba for the Urhobo, Dr. Andrew Igban for the Itsekiri, and Dr. Joe Bisina for the Ijaw—received their copies of the delineation report.
During the meeting, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu highlighted that this was the fifth interaction with stakeholders since the Supreme Court's ruling on December 2, 2022, which required the Commission to carry out this work across three local government areas within the Warri Federal Constituency. Represented by INEC’s National Commissioner responsible for Cross River, Delta, and Edo states, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, he urged stakeholders to review the report and provide their feedback, noting that the Commission is prepared to adopt it as a working document in accordance with the Supreme Court's directive.
Prof. Yakubu recalled that during their last meeting on July 8, 2024, in the Warri Federal Constituency, they concluded discussions with stakeholders and committed to starting the delineation work, which was successfully conducted from July 10 to July 27, 2024.
“On the other hand, the entire people of the Warri Federal Constituency played their role as committed citizens.”
While expressing gratitude “to the Governor of Delta State who provided the enabling environment for this exercise”, the INEC Chairman expressed appreciation for the presence of the community representatives, saying it was a demonstration of their confidence in the Commission as an unbiased electoral umpire.
In his address, Sir Umoren, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC in Delta State, highlighted the importance of the occasion. He remarked that it reflects the determination, resilience, and shared commitment of everyone involved to move forward from the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 2, 2022, to our current position.
He expressed gratitude to the INEC Chairman for his exemplary leadership and to the regional coordinator for successfully guiding the exercise to a conclusive end.
“The report of the fieldwork is a critical cornerstone towards the Implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation of wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.
“Before we arrived at this point, a stakeholders’ meeting was first held at the INEC Delta State Office in Asaba on 15 February 2023, followed by the expanded stakeholders’ meeting, which was held also in Asaba on 21st March 2024.
“The third stakeholders’ meeting was held in Warri, Warri South LGA, headquarters of Warri Federal Constituency, on 8th July 2024 before the commission’s men and materials were deployed to commence the fieldwork exercise from 10th -27th July 2024.
However, sources from THISDAY have reported that the recent delineation fieldwork for Warri North Local Government Area shows that the Ijaw community holds 10 out of the 18 wards, while the Itsekiri have eight. In Warri South-West, the Ijaw have a significant majority with 15 wards compared to the Itsekiri's four. In Warri South, the Ijaw possess three of the 20 wards, while the Itsekiri and Urhobo communities hold eight and nine wards, respectively.
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