A delegation of Urhobo indigenes in Warri has staged a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to demand the immediate release of the final ward delineation report for the Warri Federal Constituency.
The protesters, led by West Amadeo, Justice of Peace, said the delay in publishing the report could disenfranchise their people ahead of the 2027 General elections.
Speaking during the protest, the group insisted that the Supreme Court had already ruled that ward boundaries in the Warri Federal Constituency must be re-delineated.
They expressed concern that with elections approaching, the Commission must act urgently to avoid tensions and ensure fair participation for all communities.
The delegation also rejected what they described as an earlier internal report, alleging errors in the mapping of wards and omission of some communities’ names.
According to the protesters, the Urhobo were allocated only nine wards out of the expected number, which they argued was inadequate given their population.
They submitted a petition to INEC, urging the Commission to publish the final report without further delay.
Responding on behalf of INEC, Abdullahi, Abdulzuru, National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commended the group for their peaceful approach.
He assured them that the issue was at the top of the Commission’s agenda and that the INEC chairman was already engaging the Office of the National Security Adviser to ensure the matter is resolved smoothly.
Abduzuru promised that a decision would be taken soon and would be favourable to all parties involved.
The protesters appealed for timely action, stressing the need for clarity before upcoming political activities and elections in the constituency.
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