INEC restores Warri constituencies but stays silent on contested ward delineation

Leaders from the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups in Delta State's Warri Federal Constituency state that the recent restoration of suppressed state constituencies by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to address the fundamental disagreement fueling tensions over electoral representation.

This stance emerges amid growing uncertainty surrounding INEC's recently concluded ward delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency. The commission has remained silent on media inquiries seeking clarification regarding the process. INEC announced the restoration of several constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa, and Kogi states on Thursday, citing judicial orders. Primaries for these restored constituencies are scheduled for June 16-25, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

However, community leaders emphasize that the restored constituencies are distinct from the contentious ward delineation exercise. This exercise followed a Supreme Court judgment concerning electoral representation in Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West local government areas. A group representing the Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo People of Warri Federal Constituency had previously alerted INEC to assurances of creating two additional state constituencies for Warri North and Warri South-West, and recommending an additional federal constituency, pending constitutional approval.

While stakeholders welcomed the prospect of additional constituencies, the implementation of the delineation report has not yet begun, despite its unveiling over three weeks ago. With candidate submission deadlines approaching, the group expressed concern over the delay. "The issue is ward arrangement," stated Paul Bebenimibo, a signatory to the group's statement, highlighting that the primary dispute in Warri has never been about state constituencies but rather the ward distribution.

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The issue is ward arrangement