By Emmanuel Abi Couson
Concerned stakeholders in Warri South West have raised strong objections to the recent ward delineation exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the proposals as inconsistent with historical realities, post-2015 boundary adjustments, and National Population Commission (NPC) data.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Emiko Odin-Etuwewe, Convener of the Bini River Summit, questioned the origin and procedural basis of the INEC proposal.
“Where could this INEC exercise that produced this proposal have originated from, and what procedural apparatus did they apply?” he asked. “As someone with expertise in data management, I find it astonishing that the fieldwork appears to have been based on unrealistic and inaccurate information.
“He further noted that some wards in Warri South West, despite their well-documented election histories and previous boundary adjustments, were misrepresented in the new delineation proposal. “This proposal does not reflect reality and appears to be influenced by private interests,” Odin-Etuwewe added.
Advocating for equity and justice, Odin-Etuwewe emphasized that working unprocedurally, and without broad stakeholder knowledge, is unjust and unconstitutional. “What is equity without justice?” he asked rhetorically, warning that influencing territorial boundaries for selfish interests threatens the integrity of the electoral process.
The conveners have called for the immediate rejection of the current proposal, urging INEC to revisit the fieldwork and correct the noted inaccuracies and omissions, particularly those affecting the Itsekiri people. They cautioned that failure to do so could exacerbate existing ethnic tensions in the Warri Federal Constituency and compromise future elections.
Among the key grievances listed by the group are:
Alleged invalidation of a 2021 Supreme Court judgment;
Contradictions between INEC’s field affidavit and the current delineation;
Disregard for ongoing litigation concerning the disputed territories;
Alleged violation of Section 40 of the 2022 Electoral Act;
The current delineation not aligning with ground realities despite INEC’s prior assurances to defer the process until litigation outcomes were concluded.
