"No Election in Warri 2027" - Ijaw, Urhobo tell INEC, over refusal to implement supreme court delineation

Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo leaders in Warri Federal Constituency have issued a stark ultimatum Monday, vowing to use “all possible means necessary” to ensure no election holds in the area in 2027 unless INEC implements the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards.  

At a world press conference held at 5 Swap Road, GRA, Warri, Delta State, the groups accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of “cowardice,” “contemptuous lawlessness,” and colluding with “conservative forces” to sustain what they called minority rule over the majority.  

“We shall not idly stand by and watch our democratic rights fretted away by INEC’s disastrous irresponsibility,” read the joint statement signed by Dr. Joel Bisina, Oloroogun Victor Okumagba, JP, and 15 other leaders including High Chief Dr. Godspower Gbenekama, JP, the Fiyewei of Gbaramatu Kingdom.  

The groups referenced the Supreme Court judgment of December 2, 2022, in Suit No. SC/413/2016, Hon George U. Timinimi & Ors vs INEC, which compelled the commission to “conduct a fresh delineation of all electoral wards/polling units” for Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North LGAs.  

INEC held stakeholder meetings and field exercises through 2023 and presented a draft report in Asaba on April 4, 2025, the leaders said. Yet, over one year later, the final report remains unpublished while INEC proceeds with the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the disputed wards.  

“In the eyes of the law, there are no longer in existence electoral wards and units in Warri until the fresh exercise is concluded,” the statement declared. “It is criminal, illegal and contemptuous to register voters on nothing. According to Lord Denning: ‘You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand.’”

The leaders said INEC’s inaction mirrors a pattern of ignored peace reports in Warri since 1993, citing unimplemented findings from the Justice Nnaemeka Agu Commission, Justice Alhassan Idoko Inquiry, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma Task Force, and others.

“Apparently, INEC have been compromised, Justice is dying as the referee has joined the match,” the statement read. “This betrayal will strip the Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo People of Warri from effective participation, this is tyranny in slow motion.”  

They warned that denying communities the ballot would force them to “seek other roads,” adding: “That is not a threat. That is history.” 

The press conference ended with a definitive warning: “We shall use all possible means necessary to ensure that there is no election in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State in 2027.”  

INEC’s own 1999 post-election assessment admitted that previous ward delineations “did not follow relevant laws, resulting in skewed results, designed to satisfy certain selfish interest.” The Supreme Court found “fictitious wards,” multiple wards in sparsely populated areas, and voter registration in private homes.  

The disputed structure has been linked to violent conflicts between Ijaw/Itsekiri and Urhobo/Itsekiri in 1997–1999 and 2002–2003.

PEBNEWS reports that INEC has not publicly responded to Monday’s press conference or the threat of election disruption as the CVR exercise continues nationwide ahead of the 2027 general elections.