• INEC has been tasked to complete the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency

  • The electoral umpire is tasked to concluded the process to to avert continued political marginalization

  • The IYC Western Zone also calls for transparency, equity and fairness to be upheld

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to speed up processes for the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.

The body made the call via a statement on Monday signed by the trio of Comrade Nicholas Igarama – Chairman, Comrade Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo – Secretary and Tare Magbei – Information Officer.

The call is coming more than seven months after the electoral umpire started the fresh delineation process across the Constituency.

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The IYC urged INEC to maintain transparency, justice, equity, and fairness in overseeing the process to avoid previously perceived marginalization by certain quarters.

It reads;

“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite action on the delineation process for Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State.

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“This exercise is long overdue and essential to ensuring fair representation and political equity for all ethnic groups within the constituency.

“We urge INEC to conduct this process with the highest level of transparency, fairness, and equity. Any further delay or lack of inclusivity in the delineation process could lead to continued political marginalization, particularly of the Ijaw people, who have long sought equitable representation in Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas.

“The IYC stands firm in advocating for a delineation process that reflects the true demographic and political realities of the constituency.

“We expect INEC to uphold its constitutional duty without bias or external influence. The people of Warri deserve a delineation that ensures fair political participation and strengthens democratic governance.

“We call on all stakeholders, including the Delta State Government, political leaders, and traditional institutions, to support this process and ensure that justice is done for all ethnic groups in Warri Federal Constituency.”

Daily Report Nigeria recalls that the Supreme Court mandated INEC to commence a fresh delineation across the three local government areas in Warri Federal Constituency in 2023.

The judgement followed an appeal marked: SC/413/2016 lodged against INEC before the apex court by George Timinimi and nine others.

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In the lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court, issued an order, compelling INEC, “its agents, servants, privies and assigns to conduct a fresh delineation of all the 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.”

In a suit they filed at the Federal High Court in Asaba on March 28, 2011, on behalf of the Ijaws of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, averred that INEC did not properly delineated wards and units in the three LGAs, in tandem with existing population of the areas, alleging the existence of fictitious wards and units.

However, the Itsekiri nation had motion ex-parte in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/46/2024 through their lawyer, Chief Robinson Ariyo, asked INEC to stop further steps in respect of the supreme court ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and units until the determination of the motion on notice.

Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court, Warri Division rejected the interim application and gave INEC directive to obey the supreme court ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and units in Warri Federal Constituency comprising of Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Areas) of Delta State.