The indigenous people of Ijaw and Uhobo of the Federal constituency of Warri have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release and implement the report of the new ordered delineation of the Supreme Court of the electoral neighborhoods in Warri, accusing the contempt of contempt to the Court and by undermining democracy.
Speaking at a world press conference in Warri, on Monday, the representatives of the groups said that INEC’s decision to proceed with the continuous exercise of registration of voters (CVR) without completing the delineation process was “criminal, illegal and contempt” of the Judgment of the Court of Apex on December 2, 2022.
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The Supreme Court had ordered INEC to carry out a new delineation of all electoral rooms and voting units in Warri South-West, Warri North and Warri South South Local Government, after deciding that existing rooms were defective, fictional and inconsistent with statutory requirements for credible elections.
The groups of the very busy conference that attracted the tall and powerful of the Constituent, recalled that, after the sentence, INEC convened several meetings of interested parties in Asaba between February and April 2023 and then presented a draft report of the delineation exercise to the interested parties on April 4, 2025 for review. However, more than five months later, the final report has not yet been published.
“The order of the Supreme Court presupposes that the existing rooms are no longer valid in the eyes of the law. Proceed with the registration of voters in such circumstances is an exercise of uselessness,” the groups declared.
Citing the historical case of UAC vs Mctoy (1963), the leaders emphasized: “You can’t put anything in anything and expect to stand up.”
Inec accused being compromised, without independence and succumbing to external influences, insisting that their failure to implement the delineation order was a deliberate attempt to deprive indigenous voters IJAW and URHOBO.
“We will not become fashionable and observe our democratic rights and franchises that are worried about the disastrous illegality and irresponsibility of INEC. A time stitch saves nine,” the statement concluded.
The Press Conference was backed by leaders of the community, including odorogun Victor Okumagba, Hon. Deinbofa David Reje, Comrade (Mrs.) Margaret Ikorbor, Chief on Monday, Chief John Has Vor, Chief Sylvester Femi Okumagba, Chief Wilson Ogbodu and Chief (Mrs.) Ann Gagiyovwi.
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