{"id":5493,"date":"2026-02-25T20:26:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/your-silence-is-a-betrayal-of-justice-contempt-of-court-order-says-rights-group-charges-inec-to-implement-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report-immediately-2\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T20:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:26:15","slug":"your-silence-is-a-betrayal-of-justice-contempt-of-court-order-says-rights-group-charges-inec-to-implement-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report-immediately-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/your-silence-is-a-betrayal-of-justice-contempt-of-court-order-says-rights-group-charges-inec-to-implement-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report-immediately-2\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cYour Silence Is A Betrayal Of Justice, Contempt Of Court Order\u201d Says Rights Group, Charges INEC To Implement Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report Immediately"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Uche Alvin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the Chairman and Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We write with anger that your silence has manufactured. What began as patience has been overstretched. What began as cooperation has hardened into constitutional concern. The people of Warri did not obstruct your process. Communities opened their doors. Traditional institutions cooperated. Citizens engaged peacefully. Your officials came, walked the land, entered the creeks, verified settlements, captured coordinates, assessed demographic spread, compiled data and concluded the delineation exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work was done. The process was completed. The assignment was fulfilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Supreme Court ordered a lawful delineation. Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes it binding that the decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced by all authorities and persons. Sections 71 to 76 and 112 to 116 further establish that constituency delineation must be grounded in population and geographical realities. These are not advisory clauses. They are constitutional imperatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, after completing a court-ordered, constitutionally mandated exercise, you have chosen silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is no longer administrative delay. It is institutional hesitation in a matter that requires firmness. When a constitutional exercise is concluded and its result withheld without explanation, the silence stops being procedural and begins to look political. The longer this result remains unpublished, the louder the suspicion becomes. Silence in such circumstances erodes confidence and weakens institutional credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warri Federal Constituency is not a political chessboard. It is home to communities whose representation depends on fairness and clarity. Electoral legitimacy does not begin on election day, it begins with accurate delineation. When the structural foundation of representation is withheld, every subsequent electoral activity rests on uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An electoral commission exists to protect democracy from pressure, not to bend under it. Independence is not a slogan, it is demonstrated in moments when truth must be released despite discomfort. Institutions that hesitate in constitutional matters invite doubt about their autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every passing day without publication deepens the wound. It communicates to citizens that lawful processes can be delayed indefinitely. It signals that constitutional compliance may depend on political convenience. That perception, whether intended or not, is dangerous in a democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are not ignorant of the sensitivities that surround Warri. We are not blind to political noise. But leadership is tested precisely when pressure mounts. History will not remember explanations whispered behind closed doors. It will remember whether INEC stood by the Constitution or retreated into silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warri cannot remain suspended in uncertainty. Electoral preparation cannot continue under ambiguity. Communities deserve clarity. The Constitution demands compliance. The Supreme Court has spoken. The fieldwork has been completed. Nothing remains but publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are not asking for favour. We are insisting on constitutional responsibility. We are not seeking advantage. We are demanding transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Release the final ward delineation result.
Let constitutional order prevail.
Let trust be restored before it erodes beyond repair.
Let democracy breathe again in Warri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Tiemopere Joshua ~ President<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Ebikeme T. Goodstime ~ Secretary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerned Indigenous Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cc:
The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Security Adviser<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chief Justice of Nigeria<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Senate President
The Speaker, House of Representatives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Governor of Delta State<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Society and Democracy Observers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nigerian People<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Uche Alvin To the Chairman and Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5437,"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":"\u201cYour Silence Is A Betrayal Of Justice, Contempt Of Court Order\u201d Says Rights Group, Charge INEC To Implement Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report Immediately","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":[13],"tags":[1836,1835],"class_list":["post-5493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-your-silence-is-a-betrayal-of-justice","tag-contempt-of-court-order-says-rights-group"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img_8148.jpg?fit=904%2C518&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5492,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/your-silence-is-a-betrayal-of-justice-contempt-of-court-order-says-rights-group-charges-inec-to-implement-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report-immediately\/","url_meta":{"origin":5493,"position":0},"title":"\u201cYour Silence Is A Betrayal Of Justice, Contempt Of Court Order\u201d Says Rights Group, Charges INEC To Implement Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report Immediately","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"February 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin To the Chairman and Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), We write with anger that your silence has manufactured. What began as patience has been overstretched. What began as cooperation has hardened into constitutional concern. The people of Warri did not obstruct your process. Communities\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\/2026\/02\/img_8148.jpg?fit=904%2C518&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img_8148.jpg?fit=904%2C518&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img_8148.jpg?fit=904%2C518&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img_8148.jpg?fit=904%2C518&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4992,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/inecs-deliberate-delay-is-a-contempt-of-the-supreme-court-of-nigeria-says-warri-elders-group-urges-inec-to-immediately-announce-final-delineation-result\/","url_meta":{"origin":5493,"position":1},"title":"\u201cINEC\u2019s Deliberate Delay Is A Contempt Of The Supreme Court Of Nigeria\u201d Says Warri Elders Group, Urges INEC To Immediately Announce Final Delineation Result","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"November 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (NSA) AND THE NIGERIAN REPUBLIC FROM: CONCERNED ELDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY Subject: INEC\u2019s Deliberate Delay is a Contempt of the Supreme Court, Announce the Final Delineation Result Now DATE: 6\/11\/2025 Your Excellency, We write\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\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4984,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/11\/03\/re-inecs-contempt-of-court-order-and-ethnic-collaboration-in-warri-federal-constituency\/","url_meta":{"origin":5493,"position":2},"title":"RE: INEC\u2019s Contempt Of Court Order And Ethnic Collaboration In Warri Federal Constituency","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"November 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC RE: INEC\u2019S CONTEMPT OF COURT AND ETHNIC COLLABORATION IN WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCYDate: 3\/11\/2025 A CRY AGAINST SILENCE: DEMOCRACY IS BLEEDING IN WARRI We, the Indigenous Stakeholders, Community Leaders and Defenders of Justice in Warri Federal Constituency, write\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\/11\/img_4622.jpg?fit=461%2C323&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5307,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/01\/22\/your-continued-silence-is-dangerous-implement-the-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report-now___group-charge-inec\/","url_meta":{"origin":5493,"position":3},"title":"\u201cYour Continued Silence Is Dangerous, Implement The Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report Now\u201d___Group Charge INEC","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"January 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David OPEN LETTER TO THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), ABUJA From: Concerned Elders of Warri Federal ConstituencyDate: 22 January 2026 Demography Is Not Negotiable, Publish the Final Ward Delineation Result Now We write this letter with voices heavy from restraint and hearts burning with justified anger. We\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\/2026\/01\/img_7252.jpg?fit=880%2C856&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/img_7252.jpg?fit=880%2C856&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/img_7252.jpg?fit=880%2C856&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/img_7252.jpg?fit=880%2C856&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"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":5493,"position":4},"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":[]},{"id":4880,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/10\/10\/just-in-concerned-elders-and-stakeholders-of-warri-federal-constituency-demands-immediate-implementation-of-delineation-report-says-inec-playing-game-with-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":5493,"position":5},"title":"JUST IN: Concerned Elders And Stakeholders Of Warri Federal Constituency Demands Immediate Implementation Of Delineation Report, Says INEC Playing Game With Report","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Josiah Victor OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENCY AND THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL WARD-DELINEATION RESULT FOR WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY From: Concerned Elders and Stakeholders of Warri Federal ConstituencyDate: 10\/9\/2025 Preamble The integrity of Nigeria\u2019s democracy rests on equality before the law.\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\/10\/img_3659.jpg?fit=426%2C469&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1qB","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5493","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=5493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5493\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}