By Peter Omopo
Abuja, September 9, 2025 — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to review petitions from Urhobo and Ijaw communities in Delta State following a peaceful protest at its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The demonstrators, drawn from Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West Local Government Areas, accused the commission of delaying the implementation of a Supreme Court judgment of December 2, 2022, which ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Carrying placards, the protesters submitted a petition signed by 16 community leaders to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. They warned that the ongoing voter registration exercise in the constituency without legitimate ward structures amounted to disenfranchisement and contempt of court.
“We can no longer wait while our democratic rights, guaranteed by the constitution and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, are being eroded,” the petition read in part.
The group commended INEC for conducting fieldwork and drafting proposed registration areas but condemned what they called “undue delays” in finalising the process. They vowed to continue their sit-in at the commission’s headquarters until their demands were met.
INEC’s Response
INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, who received the petition alongside the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, praised the protesters for their peaceful approach.
“I want to thank you sincerely for this peaceful approach. The commission will look at your petition and act on it,” Zuru assured.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, stressing that no community would be disenfranchised.
“If we don’t ensure that every Nigerian participates, then we are failing in our duty — and that we will not do,” he said.
Community Concerns
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Ijaw leader David Jere lamented that months after stakeholder consultations and fieldwork, INEC had yet to release the final delineation report.
“For Ijaws and Urhobos, we don’t have wards and units to register. We are asking INEC to release the final reports so that we can participate in the ongoing CVR,” he said.
Another protester argued that, legally, no valid wards currently exist in the Warri Federal Constituency due to the Supreme Court ruling, which nullified previous delineations.
Background
INEC began consultations in February 2023 and completed fieldwork by July 2024. A draft delineation report was presented to community leaders in Warri on April 4, 2025. However, INEC clarified in a statement on April 10 that the report was still under review and urged stakeholders to submit further observations.
With the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise now underway — online since August 18 and physically since August 25 — community leaders argue they are being sidelined without proper ward structures in place.
INEC has appealed for calm, urging all parties to avoid actions that could jeopardise peace in the Niger Delta.
