The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday pledged to review demands from protesting Urhobo and Ijaw communities in Delta State, following a peaceful demonstration at its national headquarters in Abuja.
The protest was in response to the commission’s delay in implementing a Supreme Court-ordered delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The demonstrators, representing Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West Local Government Areas, submitted a petition to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, warning that the ongoing voter registration in the area without legitimate electoral structures violated their constitutional rights and the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 2, 2022.
During the protest, community leaders submitted a petition to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. The petition, signed by 16 representatives, criticised the ongoing voter registration in the constituency without the proper electoral structures in place.
“We can no longer wait while our democratic rights, guaranteed by the constitution and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court judgment, are being eroded.
“INEC should immediately release and implement the report painstakingly embarked upon by stakeholders. We shall not idly stand by and watch our democratic rights and franchise fretted away,” the petition read in part.
The group commended INEC for its initial efforts in conducting fieldwork and producing proposed registration areas and polling units.
However, they expressed frustration over what they described as undue delays in finalizing the process.
“We are fully abreast with the legal attempts and undue influences from various quarters to derail or truncate the process. It was your resilience and resolved determination that made it possible for the proposed registration area /wards and units to be publicly presented.
“It is this shared determination and resolve to do the right thing that has kept us patiently for the past five months, hoping that you will conclude the process before commencing a future electoral process through the instrumentality of the ongoing Voters’ Registration exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency, which is an affront to the judiciary.
“We decided to travel from Warri Federal constituency to draw your attention to our plight and to let you know that we will not allow any institutions or external influences and pressures to allow our inalienable rights to be petered away by those bent on confusing Warri Federal Consistency, Niger Delta Region, and by extension Nigeria.
“We will continue to occupy your premises until our fundamental human rights to vote and be voted for are restored to us with a clear direction and information on where and how we should participate in the ongoing exercise,” the petition stated.
The petition was received on behalf of the commission by INEC National Commissioner Prof. Abdullahi Zuru and Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
Prof. Zuru praised the protesters for their peaceful conduct and assured them that their concerns would be treated with the seriousness they deserve.
“I want to thank you sincerely for this peaceful approach to handling these issues.
“You have read through your submission, and the people here have heard what you have said. I will tender this document that you have presented to the commission. The commission will look at this and act on it,” Zuru said.
Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, he added, “There is no intention whatsoever to disenfranchise anybody from any democratic exercise. If we don’t ensure that every Nigerian participates, then we are failing in our duty — and that we will not do.”
Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, Ijaw leader David Jere from Warri North expressed frustration over INEC’s silence and inaction months after the delineation process was reportedly concluded.
“Today we have been waiting, and you have commenced the voter registration exercise. For Ijaws and Urhobos, we don’t have wards and units to register.
“So we came here to tell you to release the final reports of your exercise, so that we can go and participate in the ongoing CVR,” Jere noted.
Another protester emphasised the legal implications of INEC’s current actions, saying, “With due respect, sir, in the eyes of the law, there is no existing ward or unit in Warri Federal Constituency at all — by virtue of the December 2nd judgment delivered by the Supreme Court.”
The Supreme Court ruling had ordered INEC to conduct a fresh delineation of wards in Warri Federal Constituency due to claims of imbalance and underrepresentation.
In response, INEC began stakeholder consultations in February 2023 and completed fieldwork by July 2024. A draft delineation report was presented to community leaders during a meeting in Warri on April 4, 2025.
At the time, INEC clarified in a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on April 10, that the report was still under review.
“Contrary to the speculations making the rounds, the commission is yet to take a final decision on the delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency.
“We urge representatives of the various stakeholders to submit their observations on the draft report, which will serve as the basis for further engagement on the matter,” the statement read.
INEC also appealed for calm, urging communities to avoid any action that might threaten regional peace.
However, with nationwide voter registration now underway and no final delineation approved, communities in Warri argue they are effectively being sidelined — a situation that triggered the fresh protest.
Prof. Zuru concluded by assuring the protesters that their grievances would be relayed to the full commission.
“We will get back to you,” he said.
The CVR online registration exercise commenced on August 18, and the physical registration commenced on August 25.
The PUNCH
