Re: The Fraudulent Petition Of The Itsekiris Against The Supreme Court Ordered Delineation In Warri Federal Constituency -

By Esther David

OPEN REBUTTAL LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INEC AND ALL NIGERIANS

RE: THE FRAUDULENT ITSEKIRI PETITION AGAINST THE SUPREME COURT–ORDERED DELINEATION IN WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

From: Concerned Ijaw & Urhobo Stakeholders of Warri Federal Consituency
[1/9/2025]

Introduction

We have read with utter shock the baseless petition by certain Itsekiri stakeholders alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency is fraudulent. This petition is itself a fraud, a desperate attempt to distort history, mislead Nigerians and obstruct justice already delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in SC/CV/1033/2023 (Timinimi v. INEC).

Let the record be set straight: the delineation exercise was conducted under a binding Supreme Court order, not as a political favor. Any attempt to smear or suspend it is a direct attack on the Constitution of Nigeria, the integrity of the judiciary and the peace of Warri.

Historical Lies and the Truth They Hide

The petition accuses INEC of creating “nonexistent communities.” This is false and malicious.

Ogbe-Ijoh and Gbaramatu settlements are centuries old, documented in Portuguese accounts as far back as 1485 (Pacheco Pereira’s Esmeraldo de Situ Orbis) which described the Ijaw as original settlers of Escravos and Warri creeks.

1932 Warri Intelligence Report (CSO 26/08549, National Archives, Ibadan) confirmed that Ijaw and Urhobo made up the numerical majority of Warri Division.

1938 Warri Division Annual Report (CSO 26/19109) warned colonial administrators that Itsekiri leaders were attempting to fraudulently claim lands belonging to Ijaw and Urhobo.

If anyone is guilty of “importation of communities,” it is the Itsekiri elites who, through colonial fraud, had the Olu’s title deceitfully changed in 1952 from Olu of Itsekiri to Olu of Warri. This title expansion was never accepted by Ijaw and Urhobo leaders, including Chief Mukoro Mowoe of the UPU, who described it as “an attempt to reduce Urhobo and Ijaw owners of Warri to strangers in their land.”

On Population and Representation

The petition falsely alleges that INEC inflated Ijaw and Urhobo populations. Again, history disagrees.

The 2006 Census recorded Warri South-West and Warri South as dominated by Ijaw and Urhobo. The Itsekiri were a minority, not more than 25% of the population.

Voter registration statistics published by INEC in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 all show Ijaw and Urhobo communities registering more voters than Itsekiri.

International observation reports during the 1999–2003 elections flagged Itsekiri’s attempt to manipulate ward structures to preserve minority dominance.

The principle in Sections 112–115 of the 1999 Constitution is clear: wards and constituencies must reflect population size, contiguity and community of interest. That is precisely what INEC did in the Warri delineation.

Itsekiri agitation is nothing more than a demand for minority overrepresentation, contrary to the Constitution.

Legal and Constitutional Imperatives

INEC did not err. It obeyed the Supreme Court’s final judgment, which is binding on all authorities.

Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution:
“The decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons.”

Attorney-General of Lagos v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2003) 12 NWLR (Pt.833) 1: The Supreme Court held that no authority can question or delay compliance with a Supreme Court order.

INEC v. Musa (2003) 3 NWLR (Pt.806) 72: The Court declared that INEC cannot act arbitrarily but must obey constitutional and judicial directives.

Therefore, Itsekiri demands to suspend the delineation are unconstitutional, illegal and contemptuous of the judiciary.

On Their Cited Cases

The Itsekiri petition mischievously cites A.G. Federation v. A.G. Abia State (2002) and others to accuse INEC of fraud. This is a distortion. Those cases emphasized credible data and fairness. Exactly that is what INEC has now applied in Warri, using voters’ register, census data and verified community settlements.

What the Itsekiri fear is simple: for the first time since independence, ward allocation will reflect true population, not colonial manipulation.

The Supreme Court’s Command Cannot Be Negotiated

The Itsekiri petitioners are essentially asking INEC to disobey the Supreme Court. That is treason against the Constitution.

If INEC could obey delineation orders in Ebonyi (2007), Kano (2013), Anambra (2015), Kaduna (2019), why not Warri? Selective justice is injustice.

Our Demand

We therefore demand:

That the Federal Government and INEC immediately announce the final delineation result in compliance with SC/CV/1033/2023, Timinimi v. INEC.
That the false petition of the Itsekiri oligarchy be dismissed as a propaganda stunt rooted in fear of losing decades of fraudulent advantage.
That security agencies place Warri on alert, as Itsekiri propaganda has historically fueled crises (1997, 1999, 2003).
Conclusion:

The Itsekiri petition is a drowning man’s last cry, baseless, fraudulent and historically dishonest. Nigeria cannot afford to enthrone falsehood over truth, nor minority dominance over constitutional justice.

The Supreme Court has spoken. The Constitution is clear. INEC has acted rightly.

Now the Federal Government must act:
Announce the delineation result. End the lies. Deliver justice in Warri.

Signed:

Chief, Timothy Ovie
(President)

Chief, Ebikeme T. Godstime
(Secretary)

Concerned Ijaw & Urhobo Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency

Cc:

National Assembly

National Security Adviser

International Community

Media Houses