Itsekiri nation rejects substantial portion of INEC report

By Jimitota Onoyume

WARRI—Itsekiri nation has reiterated its rejection of a substantial portion of the report by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on its recent ward redelineation exercise in Warri federal constituency, saying the commission allegedly violated constitutional provisions and even the Electoral Act on the exercise.

Flanked by other leaders of the Itsekiri nation, Sunny Mene, who addressed newsmen, yesterday, in Warri, Delta State, said the ethnic nationality was not opposed to ward redelineation exercise when it is in conformity with the constitutional provisions.

Also in attendance at the briefing were Edward Ekpoko, Prince Yemi Emiko, A. Mene, Alex Eyengho and Robinson Ariyon.

Mene said: “We address you today on behalf of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality, IEN, regarding the proposed delineation of wards, polling units, state constituencies, the creation of an additional federal constituency within the Warri federal constituency and our reaction to media propaganda by a section of the Ijaw and the Urhobo (sponsored by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu). The proposal was released by INEC in Asaba, Delta State, on May 20, 2026.

“From the outset, we state unequivocally that the Itsekiri people are not opposed to lawful electoral reforms, democratic inclusion or constitutional compliance.

“We fully respect the judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/143/2016, which directed INEC to conduct a fresh delineation exercise in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas.

“However, we firmly reject the proposed delineation scheme released by INEC on May 20, 2026, for the reasons given shortly.

“In our considered view, this exercise violates explicit constitutional provisions, disregards the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended), breaches INEC’s own operational guidelines, and relies on deeply flawed, disputed fieldwork and GIS mapping processes.

“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria establishes the strict legal framework for electoral delineation. Furthermore, INEC’s operational guidelines mandate that electoral wards must respect proportionality, geographical contiguity, community identity, cultural balance, and established local government boundaries.

“By ignoring its own guidelines on proportionality, INEC has lumped massive clusters of Itsekiri voters into fewer wards, while artificially inflating smaller voting populations elsewhere to yield more wards.

“Furthermore, we strongly deprecate the disrespectful and uncouth language recently directed at the President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during recent hostile press briefings by these section of the Ijaw and Urhobo who are sponsored by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu. Such actions show a profound disregard for the highest offices of our nation.”

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