The Itsekiri Leaders of Thoughts (ILOT) have rejected the newly proposed delineation of wards, polling units, state constituencies, and an additional federal constituency in Warri, describing the exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as flawed and unconstitutional.
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Sir A.S. Mene, the group said that although it welcomed the creation of two additional state constituencies and one federal constituency, it strongly opposed the composition and structure of the proposed delineation released by INEC in Asaba, Delta State, on May 20.
ILOT alleged that the new arrangement was based on what it described as “fraudulent data” earlier released by INEC on April 4, 2025, insisting that the exercise failed to comply with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC’s own guidelines for ward and polling unit delineation.
The group acknowledged the Supreme Court judgment in Suit No. SC/143/2016, which directed INEC to carry out a fresh delineation exercise in Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas. However, it maintained that the apex court never declared the existing wards, polling units, or voter register as fictitious.
ILOT further accused INEC of exceeding its constitutional responsibilities during the fieldwork and GIS mapping process by allegedly engaging in community identification, demographic interpretation, and territorial classification, which it argued fall outside the commission’s electoral mandate.
According to the statement, the group also rejected any attempt to use unofficial population estimates, aerial mapping interpretations, or what it termed artificially created communities as the basis for electoral delineation, warning that such actions could undermine the credibility of the democratic process.
The Itsekiri group also dismissed claims that the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups in the Warri Federal Constituency had been politically marginalized, arguing that members of both ethnic nationalities had occupied and continued to occupy key political positions across the three Warri local government areas.
ILOT further cited findings allegedly presented by independent geographic information and survey experts, which it said revealed major inconsistencies in the proposed polling unit coordinates released by INEC. The group claimed that several polling units were reportedly located outside their designated local government areas, while others were allegedly mapped within rivers, swamps, forests, and even parts of Edo and Ondo states.
Describing the development as a serious threat to the credibility and legality of the exercise, the group called on the Federal Government to investigate the delineation process and sanction any officials found to have compromised its integrity.
The group disclosed that it had already submitted formal objections to INEC and the Office of the National Security Adviser, urging authorities to address the concerns with urgency.
ILOT, however, condemned threats to peace and national infrastructure over the controversy and urged all stakeholders to embrace lawful and peaceful engagement while consultations on the delineation continue.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to justice, constitutional order, fairness, and peaceful coexistence among all ethnic nationalities within the Warri Federal Constituency.
