{"id":4621,"date":"2025-08-11T12:16:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T12:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/the-truth-behind-ayiri-emamis-misinformation-on-inecs-warri-federal-constituency-delineation___prince-igbiriki\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T12:30:57","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T12:30:57","slug":"the-truth-behind-ayiri-emamis-misinformation-on-inecs-warri-federal-constituency-delineation___prince-igbiriki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/the-truth-behind-ayiri-emamis-misinformation-on-inecs-warri-federal-constituency-delineation___prince-igbiriki\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth Behind Ayiri Emami\u2019s Misinformation On INEC\u2019s Warri Federal Constituency Delineation___Julius Timi Igbiriki"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Esther David<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent weeks, Chief Ayiri Emami has been on a media tour, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in its delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency. Among his most sensational claims is that INEC allocated wards and polling units \u201con the sea and in the forest\u201d and even in parts of Delta Central and Ondo State. He has brandished a document containing geographical coordinates as \u201cproof\u201d of this alleged injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s the truth: the document Ayiri is parading has nothing to do with INEC\u2019s electoral delineation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NUPRC Connection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coordinates in Ayiri\u2019s so-called \u201cINEC document\u201d actually come from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). This document lists gazetted host communities located within a 500-metre buffer zone as defined by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These coordinates serve one purpose: identifying communities eligible for host community development funds from oil and gas operations. They have absolutely nothing to do with how INEC draws electoral wards or polling unit boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How INEC Actually Delineates Constituencies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Electoral Act empowers INEC to delineate constituencies using:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population data (including projections where necessary)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voter registration figures<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community accessibility and geographical spread<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local consultations with stakeholders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INEC does not\u2014and has never\u2014used oil industry host community maps for elections. To suggest otherwise is either ignorance or deliberate political mischief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A History of Resistance to Fair Representation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, Itsekiri political leaders, including those close to Ayiri, went from court to court to block INEC from implementing the Supreme Court\u2019s order to re-delineate the Warri Federal Constituency. This delay ensured that Ijaws and Urhobos remained under-represented, while Itsekiri political dominance remained untouched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that INEC has finally acted\u2014balancing representation in line with demographic realities\u2014those same politicians are crying foul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dangerous Politics of Misinformation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dragging an NUPRC petroleum host community map into an electoral boundary debate is a calculated move. It is designed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Confuse the public with technical data unrelated to elections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Stoke ethnic sentiment by painting the Itsekiri as victims of a grand plot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Distract from the fact that the new delineation ends a decades-long political monopoly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The reality is simple: Warri Federal Constituency is multi-ethnic, and equitable representation is not genocide\u2014it is democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Conclusion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chief Ayiri\u2019s map is not an INEC document, and his claims about \u201cwards in the sea\u201d are a political smokescreen. The Nigerian public must demand truth, not propaganda. INEC\u2019s work should be critiqued based on electoral law and factual evidence\u2014not on oil industry buffer zone charts that have no bearing on elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    History will remember this moment as one where some fought to protect fairness and inclusion, while others tried to cling to outdated dominance through misinformation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Esther David In recent weeks, Chief Ayiri Emami has been on a media tour,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1291],"tags":[1340],"class_list":["post-4621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-electoral","tag-the-truth-behind-ayiri-emamis-misinformation-on-inecs-warri-federal-constituency-delineation___prince-igbiriki"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1834-1.jpg?fit=266%2C190&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4613,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/michael-johnny-to-ayiri-leave-inec-alone-ijaws-are-majority-in-warri-federal-constituency\/","url_meta":{"origin":4621,"position":0},"title":"Michael Johnny To Ayiri: Leave INEC Alone, Ijaws Are Majority In Warri Federal Constituency","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye \u2014Urges Stakeholders to Focus on Development, Not Ethnic Division High Chief Michael Johnny, Agadiwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Ijaw Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State, and former Chairman of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF), has refuted allegations by Chief Ayiri Emami against the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1829-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1829-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1829-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1829-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1829-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4614,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/michael-johnny-to-ayiri-leave-inec-alone-ijaws-are-majority-in-warri-federal-constituency-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":4621,"position":1},"title":"Michael Johnny To Ayiri: Leave INEC Alone, Ijaws Are Majority In Warri Federal Constituency","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye \u2014Urges Stakeholders to Focus on Development, Not Ethnic Division High Chief Michael Johnny, Agadiwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Ijaw Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State, and former Chairman of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF), has refuted allegations by Chief Ayiri Emami against the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1831-2-1.jpg?fit=962%2C708&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1831-2-1.jpg?fit=962%2C708&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1831-2-1.jpg?fit=962%2C708&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1831-2-1.jpg?fit=962%2C708&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5588,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/05\/14\/warri-delineation-abraye-blasts-ayiri-emami-itsekiri-propagandists-over-claims-of-inclusion-of-ondo-edo-communities-to-warri-federal-constituency-by-inec-during-delineation-exercise-demands-for-pr\/","url_meta":{"origin":4621,"position":2},"title":"WARRI DELINEATION: Abraye Blasts Ayiri Emami, Itsekiri Propagandists Over Claims Of Inclusion Of Ondo, Edo Communities To Warri Federal Constituency By INEC During Delineation Exercise, Demands For Proof","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"May 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), Comrade Freeborn Abraye, has strongly condemned what he described as a \u201creckless campaign of falsehood\u201d being championed by Mr. Ayiri Emami and some Itsekiri elements over the recent ward delineation exercise conducted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1440.jpg?fit=1062%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1440.jpg?fit=1062%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1440.jpg?fit=1062%2C663&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1440.jpg?fit=1062%2C663&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1440.jpg?fit=1062%2C663&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4733,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/23\/the-historical-truth-about-warri-federal-constituency-ward-delineation-and-inecs-dangerous-delay\/","url_meta":{"origin":4621,"position":3},"title":"The Historical Truth About Warri Federal Constituency Ward Delineation and INEC\u2019s Dangerous Delay","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INEC, AND THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC Subject: The Historical Truth About Warri Delineation and INEC\u2019s Dangerous DelayDate: [22\/8\/2025] History Will Not Forgive INEC\u2019s Delay Your refusal to announce the Supreme Court\u2013ordered final ward delineation result for Warri Federal Constituency is a betrayal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_2034-1-1.png?fit=225%2C225&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4538,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/26\/breaking-delta-ijaw-group-warns-inec-against-conducting-continuous-voter-registration-exercise-in-warri-federal-constituency-vows-to-resist-any-electoral-activity-without-implementation-of-delineati\/","url_meta":{"origin":4621,"position":4},"title":"BREAKING: Delta Ijaw Group Warns INEC Against Conducting Continuous Voter Registration Exercise In Warri Federal Constituency, Vows To Resist Any Electoral Activity Without Implementation Of Delineation Report","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u200eBy Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)\u200eRE: FORMAL WARNING AGAINST CONDUCTING CONTINUOUS VOTER REGISTRATION IN WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY WITHOUT FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF WARD DELINEATION EXERCISE\u200eTo:\u200eThe Chairman\u200eIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC)\u200eINEC Headquarters\u200eZambezi Crescent, Maitama District\u200eAbuja, FCT, Nigeria\u200eDear Sir,\u200e\u200eWe write to you on behalf of the Warri\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Electoral"","block_context":{"text":"Electoral","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/electoral\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4905,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/10\/20\/inecs-silence-on-the-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report-and-its-implications-on-the-ongoing-continuous-voters-registration-exercise-a-threat-to-justice-equity-and-democr\/","url_meta":{"origin":4621,"position":5},"title":"INEC\u2019s Silence On The Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report And It\u2019s Implications On The Ongoing Continuous Voters Registration Exercise: A Threat To Justice, Equity And Democracy","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin Date: Monday, 20th October, 2025Warri, 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,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1017-2-1.jpg?fit=1090%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1017-2-1.jpg?fit=1090%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1017-2-1.jpg?fit=1090%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1017-2-1.jpg?fit=1090%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_1017-2-1.jpg?fit=1090%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1cx","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4621"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4624,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4621\/revisions\/4624"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}