OSEHOBO OFURE examines how INEC’s contentious constituency demarcation in Delta State has triggered public fury and political backlash.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again found itself at the center of a heated controversy, this time over its contentious and hotly debated delineation of wards and polling units in parts of Delta State, sparking widespread accusation of bias and counter accusations from interested parties.
The commission had earlier this month presented the report on the delineation of wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State to the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities. The INEC chairman’s representative, State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Udo Umoren, at the presentation held at Asaba, the Delta State capital, explained that the fresh ward and polling unit delineation fieldwork was prompted by the Supreme Court judgment of December 22, 2022, which had ordered it to conduct the exercise. In actual fact, the presentation was the report of the fieldwork towards the implementation of the aforementioned Supreme Court order, held in Asaba, the state capital.
Copies of the delineation report were received by Chief Victor Okumagba, Dr. Andrew Igban, and Dr Joe Bisina on behalf of the Urhobo, Itsekiri, and Ijaw ethnic nationalities, respectively.
In his address during the meeting, the INEC Chairman noted that the meeting was the fifth engagement with the stakeholders since the apex court verdict, which mandated the Commission to carry out the exercise in the three local government areas in the Warri federal constituency. He urged the stakeholders to study the report and respond to it appropriately as the commission was ready to adopt the report as a working document in line with the Supreme Court directive.
“We recall that, in our last engagement meeting on the 8th of July, 2024 in Warri Federal Constituency, we concluded all discussions with stakeholders and made a promise to commence the fieldwork of the wards in the above-mentioned constituency. The Commission has carried out the exercise, which took place between 10th to 27th July 2024. On the other hand, the entire people of the Warri Federal Constituency played their role as committed citizens.”
While expressing gratitude “to the Governor of Delta State who provided the enabling environment for this exercise”, INEC expressed appreciation for the presence of the community representatives, saying it was a demonstration of their confidence in the Commission as an unbiased electoral umpire.
In his remarks, the INEC Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Umoren, described the event as significant “because it speaks to the determination, resilience, and unity of purpose of all concerned to move beyond the Supreme Court Judgement delivered on 2nd December 2022, to where we are today.
From indications, the report of the fieldwork is a critical cornerstone towards the Implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation of wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.
According to Umoren, “Before we arrived at this point, a stakeholders’ meeting was first held at the INEC Delta State Office in Asaba on 15 February 2023, followed by the expanded stakeholders’ meeting, which was held also in Asaba on 21st March 2024.
“The third stakeholders’ meeting was held in Warri, Warri South LGA, headquarters of Warri Federal Constituency, on 8th July 2024 before the commission’s men and materials were deployed to commence the fieldwork exercise from 10th -27th July 2024.
It was that gathered that under the fresh delineation fieldwork report for Warri North Local Government Area, the Ijaw has 10 of the 18 wards while Itsekiri has 8 wards; for Warri South-West, Ijaw has 15 Wards to Itsekiri’s 4 we; and in Warri South, Ijaw has 3 wards out of the 20 Wards while Itsekiri and Urhobo have 8 and 9 wards, respectively.
But no sooner had the INEC presented it’s report than the affected ethnic nationalities started protesting. One person was killed and many houses torched as a result. It followed by hundreds of Ijaw protesters marched on the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja. Drawn from the Gbaramatu, Egbema, Diebiri, and Isaba communities, said they were in Abuja they said the INEC delineation exercise, as fair and in line with a Supreme Court judgment. They commended INEC for what they called a transparent process, which they said marked the end of years of political marginalisation of the Ijaw people in the constituency.
David Reje, who led the protests said the exercise followed due consultation with the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups, adding that INEC had fulfilled its mandate by engaging traditional rulers and community leaders before finalising the delineation.
He dismissed claims that the commission did not consult stakeholders, adding that several meetings were held in Warri and Asaba before the new structure was announced.
“Why we have come here is to appreciate you, to thank you for the good work you have done since 2022, after the Supreme Court judgment. You never jettisoned the judgment.
“Today, we have left our Egypt of political slavery to our promised land of political emancipation and political identity and dignity. Nobody will dictate a candidate for us, for councilors.
“Today, we have got our freedom. We have been set to make the world to know that the people who they termed minority are the true majority, which has been confirmed, which has been revealed to the whole world. The majority has come on board. The majority has come on the stream.”
While Ijaws were happy Itsekiri leaders rejected INEC’s proposal.
The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), in rejecting the ward delineation report for the Warri Federal Constituency, described the exercise as “biased, compromised, and inequitable.
Secretary of ILoT, Amorighoye Mene, said the Itsekiri nation would challenge the report through legal means, insisting that the delineation process lacked fairness.
Mene criticized the delineation exercise for allegedly ignoring the voting strength of the different ethnic groups in the constituency, warning that if implemented, the Itsekiri people risk being politically sidelined.
He further alleged that the Supreme Court judgment that led to the fresh delineation was obtained “surreptitiously,” noting that the case went undefended by INEC and other relevant stakeholders.
Despite the Supreme Court’s directive for a nationwide delineation exercise, Mene accused INEC of selectively implementing the judgment in Warri Federal Constituency, claiming it revealed a hidden agenda by the electoral commission.
His words, “We were not given opportunity to speak or react at the venue of the unveiling because they knew they had done things inimical to our interest.But we have looked at the report given to us and the entire Itsekiri nation completely condemn and reject the work done by INEC.We not only condemn it, we reject it in its entirety because the fears we had earlier on at the commencement of the exercise has been proven. That INEC will not be fair and just in the exercise. The report they unveiled today has shown that INEC is very biased, and anti Itsekiri.
“In Warri North; Itsekiris used to have six wards, Ijaws, four wards since 1999 but today from the reviewed INEC report, out of 18 Wards, itsekiris with 75,912 registered voters with 134 polling units now have eight wards.
“While the Ijaws with 35,480 voters strength and 58 polling units now have 10 wards.”
Mene maintained the situation was not different from Warri South West and Warri South where the Itsekiri’s voter strength was undermined.
According to him, In Warri South West, Itsekiris with voters strength of 94,074 and 175 polling units based on INEC register, now have five wards out of 19 wards delineated by INEC in their report.
“While the Ijaws with 95,046 voting strength and 147 polling units now have 14 wards in the area.
“In Warri South, Itsekiris with the voting strength of 88, 309 and 174 polling units now have eight wards while the Urhobos with 38,000 voters and 72 polling units, have 10 wards and the mix demographic area with about 51,517 voters and 105 units, the Ijaws got two wards in the area.”
He urged INEC to concern itself with eligible voters and how they could vote conveniently and exercise their franchise.
“We expect INEC to be fair, equitable and not biased because wards and polling units delineation is for the convenience of administering elections based on numbers of registered voters in various communities and registered areas.
“INEC is not supposed to be concerned with religion, land ownership claims as it is not a court. It’s primary responsibility should be about eligible voters and how they can vote conveniently. INEC should concentrate on voters and how they can vote conveniently in the areas they are registered.”
Immediate past Vice Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr Solomon Mikie, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to halt the proposed ward and unit delineation describing it as unjust, divisive, and capable of destabilizing the fragile peace in the federal constituency.
According to Dr. Mikie, the proposed delineation is not only insensitive, but lacks broad-based consultation with the indigenous stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency. He noted that any attempt to alter the existing ward structures without the free, prior, and informed consent of the people is a direct affront to the identity, heritage, and rights of the people of the constituency.
He stressed that INEC must recognize the historical and cultural realities of Warri Federal Constituency and refrain from actions that could incite disunity and communal tension. “The integrity of our political representation cannot be tampered with under any guise. We will not allow ourselves to be shortchanged or marginalized through manipulated delineation,” he said.
Mikie further urged leaders, traditional institutions, youth groups, and civil society organizations within Warri Federal Constituency to remain vigilant and united in rejecting any undemocratic and ill-motivated plans that threaten the collective interest of the people.
He called on INEC to act responsibly and transparently, and to ensure that any delineation process follows due process, equity, and fairness, adding that the peace and unity of Warri Federal Constituency must not be sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.
Meanwhile INEC says it was yet to take action on the matter, adding that consultations are still ongoing.
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