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Leaders of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality (IEN) have rejected the proposed delineation of wards, polling units and constituencies in the Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the exercise breaches constitutional provisions, electoral laws and the commission’s operational guidelines.

The position was made known at a World Press Conference held on Tuesday at Ubeji Town Hall, Warri, where prominent Itsekiri leaders, including Chief Edward Ekpoko, Prince Yemi Emiko, Sir A.S. Mene, Alex Eyengho and Chief Robinson Ariyo, expressed concerns over what they described as fundamental irregularities in the delineation exercise released by INEC on May 20, 2026.

Speaking on behalf of the Itsekiri people, the leaders said they were not opposed to electoral reforms, democratic inclusion or the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment directing INEC to conduct a fresh delineation exercise in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West Local Government Areas. However, they insisted that the current proposal failed to comply with constitutional and statutory requirements governing electoral delineation.

According to them, the exercise relied on disputed fieldwork and questionable Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping processes that allegedly distorted electoral realities within the affected local government areas.

The leaders argued that the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC’s extant guidelines require electoral wards to reflect geographical contiguity, community identity, cultural balance and established local government boundaries.

They further alleged that independent geographic, surveying and cartographic experts engaged to review the data released by INEC uncovered significant discrepancies, including polling units allegedly mapped outside recognised local government boundaries, with some locations extending into neighbouring Edo and Ondo states. They also claimed that several mapped locations were situated in rivers, swamps, forests and other uninhabitable terrains.

The Itsekiri leaders accused INEC of creating proposed wards that combined polling units across different local government areas, contrary to guidelines stipulating that no ward should span more than one local government area.

Presenting findings from what they described as an independent expert review, the group claimed that hundreds of mapped polygons in Warri South-West and Warri North were duplicated, submerged in water bodies or located outside statutory boundaries, resulting in what they termed an artificial demographic advantage for certain communities.

They also alleged that the fieldwork failed to adequately capture rapidly growing settlements in Warri South, leading to the omission of several Itsekiri communities with substantial populations.

The leaders maintained that the Supreme Court judgment did not invalidate the 2023 voter register and argued that any lawful delineation exercise should be anchored on verified voter distribution data from the 2023 general elections rather than what they described as arbitrary spatial allocations.

Citing statistics presented at the conference, they stated that six Itsekiri wards in Warri North recorded 75,912 registered voters and 134 polling units, compared to four Ijaw wards with 34,480 voters and 58 polling units. In Warri South-West, they said Itsekiri wards had 94,074 registered voters and 175 polling units, while Ijaw wards recorded 95,042 voters and 157 polling units.

The Itsekiri leaders stressed that their opposition to the proposal was not directed against any ethnic group but was rooted in the principles of fairness, constitutional compliance and the rule of law. They also argued that claims suggesting certain ethnic nationalities lacked political representation in the Warri Federal Constituency were not supported by historical records.

The group expressed concern over what it described as inflammatory statements and threats allegedly made by some Ijaw and Urhobo groups in connection with the delineation dispute, warning that such actions could threaten peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

They also condemned remarks allegedly directed at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu by some actors involved in the controversy, describing such comments as disrespectful to the offices they occupy.

Despite their objections, the Itsekiri leaders commended INEC’s proposal to create two additional state constituencies and an extra federal constituency within the Warri Federal Constituency, noting that such measures could enhance representation if implemented in accordance with the law.

Among their demands, the leaders called on the Federal Government to investigate the technical execution of the delineation exercise and urged INEC to suspend reliance on the disputed fieldwork and GIS mapping data pending an independent technical verification.

They also appealed to security agencies and oversight institutions to closely monitor the process to ensure transparency, accountability and full compliance with constitutional provisions.

Reaffirming their commitment to peace, the leaders said the Itsekiri people would continue to pursue their grievances through lawful and democratic means, insisting that their position remains anchored on equity, justice, fairness and constitutional compliance.