INEC’s Silence On The Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report And It’s Implications On The Ongoing Continuous Voters Registration Exercise: A Threat To Justice, Equity And Democracy -

By Uche Alvin

Date: Monday, 20th October, 2025
Warri, Delta State

The Warri Ijaw Stakeholders express deep concern and strong condemnation over the continued silence and inaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the final report on the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency, despite a clear and binding Supreme Court judgment affirming its validity.

This silence has now assumed greater constitutional and political consequences as INEC proceeds with the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise without implementing the corrected delineation boundaries.

This omission, whether by neglect or deliberate design, disenfranchises thousands of eligible voters, distorts representation, and undermines the credibility of the entire voter registration process in Warri Federal Constituency.

THE LEGAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, in its final judgment on the Warri Federal Constituency delineation matter, affirmed that the ward and polling unit delineation exercise conducted by INEC was lawful, complete, and must be implemented immediately.
Under Section 235 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the decision of the Supreme Court is final and binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria.
Section 73 of the Electoral Act 2022 and Paragraph 15, Part I of the Third Schedule to the Constitution impose a clear duty on INEC to review and update electoral boundaries to ensure equitable representation and fairness.

4. Credible evidence confirms that the final delineation report has been duly completed and transmitted to INEC’s Delta State and National Headquarters but has been deliberately withheld from publication or implementation.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF INEC’S SILENCE DURING THE CVR EXERCISE

Disenfranchisement of Eligible Voters: Without the Supreme Court-approved delineation, many Warri Ijaw communities are excluded or wrongly classified under other wards, preventing them from registering or updating their voter records within their lawful constituencies.
Distorted Representation: Proceeding with voter registration on outdated or invalid boundaries nullifies the purpose of delineation and entrenches historical political imbalance within Warri Federal Constituency.
Violation of the Supreme Court Judgment: INEC’s continued inaction amounts to contempt of court and constitutional breach, undermining the final authority of the judiciary.
Erosion of Electoral Credibility: Conducting a CVR exercise on invalid delineations renders the entire process questionable, and could invalidate outcomes in future elections.
Threat to Peace and Stability: This persistent injustice, if left unaddressed, risks fueling renewed tension and distrust among ethnic groups that have remained peaceful and law-abiding in pursuit of justice.

OUR DEMANDS

We, the Warri Ijaw Stakeholders, therefore, make the following demands:

That INEC immediately publishes and implements the Final Ward and Polling Unit Delineation Report for Warri Federal Constituency in full compliance with the Supreme Court judgment.
That INEC halts the current Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Warri Federal Constituency until the delineation report is implemented, to prevent disenfranchisement and illegality.
That the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice ensure the enforcement of the judgment pursuant to Section 287(1) of the Constitution.
That the National Assembly Committees on Electoral Matters, Civil Society Organizations, and credible international observers take immediate notice of this constitutional violation and demand compliance from INEC.
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CONCLUSION

INEC’s silence on the Warri delineation report, especially in the midst of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), represents a direct assault on the rule of law, equity, and democratic fairness.
You cannot register voters properly when their lawful wards and polling units have been judicially defined but remain administratively ignored.

Justice delayed is democracy denied.