“INEC Must Withdraw The Released Fraudulent And Distorted Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report Or Face Mass Resistance”

By Ebiowei Gabriel

Comrade Freeborn Abraye, National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), has strongly rejected the Warri Federal Constituency delineation report released by Independent National Electoral Commission on the 20th of May, 2026 in Asaba, describing the report as “a direct assault on democracy, justice and the collective will of the Ijaw people.”

Abraye stated that the report released by INEC does not reflect the true principles of democracy, fairness and population-based representation, insisting that the commission has contradicted the very outcome of the delineation exercise it conducted across Warri South West and Warri North.

According to him, the delineation exercise clearly established that the Ijaw people are the majority in both Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas, while the Itsekiri people are minorities in the two LGAs. He argued that under every democratic principle and constitutional standard, the majority population ought to receive greater political representation and ward allocations than the minority.

Abraye condemned what he described as a “shocking and suspicious manipulation” of the final report, stressing that INEC allocated seven (7) wards each to the Ijaws and Itsekiris in Warri South West and ten (10) wards each to both ethnic groups in Warri North despite the commission’s own findings showing that the Ijaw population is larger in the two local governments.

He declared:

“INEC cannot conduct a delineation exercise, confirm that the Ijaws are the majority in Warri South West and Warri North, and then turn around to allocate equal wards to both the majority and minority groups. That is a complete contradiction of democratic principles and a betrayal of justice.”

Abraye further alleged that the report released by INEC is entirely different from the original report presented to stakeholders on the 4th of April, 2025 immediately after the delineation exercise. He maintained that the original report clearly reflected the demographic realities of the area and affirmed the Ijaw people as the majority in both local governments.

According to him, the latest report released by INEC failed to reflect those findings, thereby raising serious suspicions that the original report had been tampered with.

“The report released by INEC is not the original report given to stakeholders after the delineation exercise. The original report clearly showed that the Ijaws are the majority in Warri South West and Warri North. What INEC has released now is a distorted and manipulated version designed to suppress the political rights of the Ijaw people.”

The NDAPDEJ National Coordinator warned that the people of the affected areas would strongly resist any attempt to impose what he termed an “anti-democratic arrangement” on the Warri Federal Constituency.

He stated emphatically that until INEC releases and implements the original delineation report presented to stakeholders, there would be no peaceful acceptance of electoral activities within the constituency.

Abraye also condemned the creation of separate constituencies for the Itsekiri ethnic group in Warri South West and Warri North, describing the move as “an aberration against democracy and fairness.”

He argued that it is unjust for a minority ethnic group to have separate constituencies while four major Ijaw kingdoms, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Isaba Kingdom and Diebiri Kingdom, are merged into a single constituency arrangement.

“This arrangement is completely unacceptable. Democracy is built on majority rule. If any group deserves separate constituencies based on population strength and territorial spread, it should be the Ijaw kingdoms, not the minority Itsekiri group.”

Abraye insisted that the Ijaw people of Warri South West and Warri North would never accept equal ward allocations with the Itsekiri people after INEC’s own delineation findings confirmed the demographic superiority of the Ijaw population in the two LGAs.

He therefore called on INEC to immediately withdraw what he described as a “fraudulent and manipulated report” and publish the original delineation document that accurately reflects the true demographic realities of the Warri Federal Constituency.

The NDAPDEJ National Coordinator also expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of only three (3) wards to the Ogbe-Ijoh people in Warri South, arguing that the number does not correspond with their population strength and territorial spread within the local government area.

He maintained that the Ogbe-Ijoh people deserve more ward allocations based on the original delineation findings and called on INEC to urgently review and increase the number of wards allocated to the people.

“Giving the Ogbe-Ijoh people just three wards is grossly inadequate and politically unjustifiable considering their population and historical presence in Warri South. INEC must correct this injustice immediately.”

Abraye concluded by warning that any attempt to undermine the political rights and demographic realities of the Ijaw people through manipulated delineation arrangements could deepen tensions and undermine confidence in the electoral process across the Warri Federal Constituency.

Signed:
Comrade Freeborn Abraye
National Coordinator Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice ( NDAPDEJ ).