Nigerian indigenous groups urge President Tinubu to respect rule of law in electoral boundary review

Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo communities in Nigeria's Warri Federal Constituency have penned an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to uphold the rule of law in the delineation of electoral wards. The communities are expressing deep dissatisfaction with the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment from December 2, 2022, which ordered a fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units for Warri South West, Warri North, and Warri South Local Government Areas.

The Supreme Court's order followed an 11-year legal battle by the Ijaw people, who have endured decades of political oppression. The judgment mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a new delineation for future elections. INEC had initially committed to implementing the judgment in February 2023 and conducted fieldwork from July 10-19, 2024, presenting proposed changes to stakeholders in April 2025 for their input.

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Democracy is about the rule of law and that the rule of law must prevail in any democracy

However, the communities allege that the process has been marred by a disregard for the rule of law and democratic principles. They reference President Tinubu's own words from March 12, 2026, where he stated, 'Democracy is about the rule of law and that the rule of law must prevail in any democracy.' The open letter serves as a plea for the president to intervene and ensure that the Supreme Court's directive is followed accurately and transparently, preventing further political marginalization.

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AN ORDER of this Honourable Court compelling the Defendant, its agents, servants, privies and assigns to conduct a fresh delineation of all that electoral wards/polling units for Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South Local Government Areas of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State for the purpose of future elections