Recent ward delineation data upload by INEC, implies electoral boundary manipulation for community identity – UIY

The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths, UIY, says the recent Warri Federal Constituency units and ward delineation data uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on its portal, has potential consequences of electoral boundary manipulation for community identity, representation, political participation, and public confidence in democratic institutions.

The Itsekiri youth body, called on INEC to explain the legal and geographical basis for the disputed arrangements and demonstrate that its actions are consistent with the relevant court decisions and official records.

The National Public Relations Officer, PRO, Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths, Comr. Gbubemi Ejesi, who made the call in an electronic statement Friday October 30, said Itsekiri youths regard the disputed developments as a serious threat to electoral justice, the political representation of indigenous communities, and peaceful coexistence in Warri.

According to him, the recently uploaded electoral structure, including the reported inclusion of locations and units, whose geographical and administrative assignments are being challenged, has raised disturbing questions about INEC's methodology, the authenticity of the geographical coordinates used, and the extent to which the exercise complies with applicable judicial decisions.

Whilst stating that Warri cannot be subjected to an electoral arrangement that indigenous communities believe disregards their history, established territorial interests, and legitimate political rights for non-indigenous ethnic groups, Comr. Ejesi, noted: “We are particularly concerned about the reported creation of three disputed wards allegedly carved out of ancestral Okere and Pessu lands, which UIY maintains are historic Itsekiri territories.”

The full statement, reads:

The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths (UIY) expresses its strongest condemnation of the alleged irregularities surrounding the recent ward delineation data uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.

We regard the disputed developments as a serious threat to electoral justice, the political representation of indigenous communities, and peaceful coexistence in Warri.

The recently uploaded electoral structure, including the reported inclusion of locations and units whose geographical and administrative assignments are being challenged, has raised disturbing questions about INEC's methodology, the authenticity of the geographical coordinates used, and the extent to which the exercise complies with applicable judicial decisions.

Of particular concern is the allegation that the disputed delineation is being used to establish an electoral and political presence for Ijaw interests in areas of Warri South, where UIY maintains that such a community-based political structure did not previously exist.

Warri cannot be subjected to an electoral arrangement that indigenous communities believe disregards their history, established territorial interests, and legitimate political rights for non-indigenous ethnic groups.

1. UIY COMPLETELY REJECTS THE DISPUTED DELINEATION

The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths rejects the disputed Warri Federal Constituency delineation report recently uploaded by INEC.

We are particularly concerned about the reported creation of three disputed wards allegedly carved out of ancestral Okere and Pessu lands, which UIY maintains are historic Itsekiri territories.

We strongly challenge any attempt to alter the electoral structure of these areas, without a transparent, lawful, and verifiable process consistent with applicable judicial decisions.

Our concern is not merely about the names assigned to wards or polling units. It is about the potential consequences of electoral boundary manipulation for community identity, representation, political participation, and public confidence in democratic institutions.

INEC must explain the legal and geographical basis for the disputed arrangements and demonstrate that its actions are consistent with the relevant court decisions and official records.

We will not accept administrative ambiguity as a substitute for electoral justice.

2. ALLEGED FABRICATED GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES AND GHOST POLLING UNITS

UIY is deeply concerned by allegations that some geographical coordinates associated with the uploaded delineation may be inaccurate, misplaced, or imported from locations outside their proper administrative areas, including other local government areas and locations outside Delta State.

If established, such discrepancies would raise serious questions about the reliability of the exercise and the integrity of the resulting electoral structure.

We are equally concerned about the reported inclusion of the so-called Ewein wards in Warri South Local Government Area, which UIY disputes as lacking a properly established geographical and administrative basis within the relevant electoral structure.

We therefore challenge INEC to publish the coordinates, maps, ward descriptions, polling-unit registers, and supporting administrative records for independent verification.

An electoral ward must be supported by verifiable geographical and administrative evidence. No disputed location should be legitimized, merely because its name appears on an official portal.

If the evidence establishes that any ward or polling unit was created, relocated, or assigned through inaccurate data or an unlawful process, INEC must immediately correct the affected records in accordance with the law.

3. DORE NUMA MARKET, MOWOE PRIMARY SCHOOL, DELTA BOAT YARD AND NAVAL BASE: QUESTIONS IN WARRI URBAN

One of the most troubling aspects of the disputed upload is the reported assignment of areas around Dore Numa Market, Mowoe Primary School, along Robert Road, Delta Boat Yard opposite the NEPA office, and the Naval Base to the electoral structure associated with Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri urban.

UIY maintains that these locations fall within areas historically recognized by our people as Itsekiri reserve areas and calls for the relevant official records to be examined.

We question the basis upon which these locations were reportedly assigned and demand that INEC disclose the maps, coordinates, administrative boundaries, and legal instruments supporting the assignments.

The commission must explain how these locations were assessed and whether the relevant historical, geographical, and judicial records were properly considered.

We are concerned that the disputed assignments could facilitate the establishment of political structures in areas whose community and territorial status remains contested.

INEC must not allow electoral administration to become a vehicle for deepening existing disputes.

4. THE REPORTED MOVEMENT OF POLITICAL INTERESTS FROM BURUTU INTO WARRI SOUTH

The disputed delineation has heightened concerns about the movement of political interests from outside Warri South into its electoral structure.

The emergence of political figures with roots in Burutu Local Government Area, including Hon. Ebike Victor Oromoni, whom we understand to be an indigene of Burutu, a former two-term Burutu Local Government PDP chairman, and a former Senior Special Assistant to the immediate past Delta State Governor, has intensified these concerns among our people.

For the avoidance of doubt, an individual's origin or political affiliation does not, on its own, establish electoral wrongdoing.

Our concern is whether the disputed ward arrangements are being used to facilitate political representation through boundaries or polling-unit assignments that lack a lawful and verifiable basis.

The relevant question is straightforward: What geographical, administrative, and legal evidence supports the disputed electoral structure in Warri South?

INEC must answer this question with documentary evidence.

5. THE REPORTED INCLUSION OF BOLOUAMA, OBOKONE, ORUPA, OTURUBIRI AND EWEIN

UIY is further alarmed by the reported inclusion of Bolouama Town Hall, Obokone Town Hall, Orupa Town Hall, Oturubiri, and Ewein as polling units and/or wards within Warri South Local Government Area.

We strongly challenge the basis for these assignments and call for an immediate, transparent examination of their geographical coordinates, administrative classifications, and legal status.

Our position is that the inclusion of these locations must not be accepted without evidence demonstrating that the assignments comply with applicable laws, official administrative records, and binding judicial decisions.

If any of these locations has been wrongly assigned to Warri South, the error must be corrected without delay.

The commission must publish the relevant records so that affected communities, electoral stakeholders, and the public can independently examine the disputed claims.

6. UBEJI, UGBUWANGUE, ORERE AND BOWEN: FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPLOADED DATA

UIY is also concerned about reports that Ubeji polling units have been mapped into Ugbuwangue Ward and that Orere polling units associated with the Omadino/Obodo axis have been transferred into Bowen Ward.

These reported changes raise important questions about the methodology used to determine ward boundaries and assign polling units.

We demand a detailed explanation of the reasons for these changes, including the coordinates used, the previous and current polling-unit registers, and the administrative records relied upon.

Where discrepancies are identified, INEC must correct them through a transparent process that complies with the law.

The commission owes the people of Warri an explanation that can withstand independent scrutiny.

7. OKERE AND PESSU: UIY REAFFIRMS ITS POSITION ON ITSEKIRI ANCESTRAL TERRITORY

The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths reiterates its position that Okere and Pessu are ancestral Itsekiri territories whose historical identity and territorial interests must not be undermined through disputed electoral arrangements.

We reject any attempt to use electoral delineation to prejudge or alter legitimate territorial claims.

We call upon INEC and the relevant authorities to examine the historical records, official maps, applicable judicial decisions, and other admissible evidence relating to the disputed areas.

Electoral boundaries must be determined through lawful procedures and reliable evidence, not through unilateral administrative decisions that leave affected communities feeling excluded or dispossessed.

UIY will continue to defend Itsekiri interests through peaceful advocacy, documentary evidence, constitutional processes, and every lawful avenue available to our people.

8. THE WARRI SOUTH LEGISLATIVE ARM AND THE DISPUTED COMMUNITY STATUS

UIY further calls for clarification concerning reports of a resolution by the Warri South Legislative Arm asserting that Ijaw communities do not form part of Warri South.

We urge the relevant authorities to publish the resolution, establish its precise wording and legal status, and explain how it relates to the disputed INEC delineation.

While such a resolution may be relevant to understanding the local government's position, its legal effect must be assessed alongside applicable statutes, official administrative records, and binding judicial decisions.

INEC must not ignore relevant records, but neither should any institution substitute political declarations for the legal process required to resolve disputed boundaries.

The people deserve a transparent explanation grounded in law and evidence.

9. SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT: GOVERNMENTS AND INEC MUST RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW

UIY is deeply concerned about the apparent contradiction between public references to the Supreme Court's decisions on the Warri redelineation dispute and the disputed electoral arrangements now being reported.

Court judgments must not be invoked selectively for political convenience. Where a binding judicial decision applies, every relevant public institution has a duty to comply with it.

We therefore challenge INEC, the Delta State Government, and the Federal Government to explain how the disputed upload conforms to the applicable Supreme Court judgment and any subsequent binding orders or directions.

The commission should identify the specific legal and administrative grounds upon which the current delineation was undertaken.

If the uploaded arrangements conflict with a binding judicial decision, the affected authorities must take the necessary corrective steps in accordance with the law.

No public institution is above the law, and no electoral exercise should be permitted to undermine the authority of the courts.

10. CONDEMNATION OF ANY ATTEMPT TO PROVOKE ETHNIC HOSTILITY

The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths warns that the handling of sensitive territorial and electoral disputes without transparency can deepen mistrust and threaten peaceful coexistence.

Warri is home to communities with longstanding histories, legitimate interests, and a shared stake in peace and development.

We are therefore concerned that disputed electoral arrangements could intensify existing tensions between the Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw peoples.

We call on INEC and all relevant authorities to act responsibly, transparently, and in accordance with the law.

We also urge political actors and community leaders to refrain from inflammatory conduct and avoid actions capable of provoking violence.

UIY will hold the relevant institutions accountable through lawful and legitimate means for any established failure to discharge their responsibilities.

Our determination to defend our people's rights is unwavering, but our struggle must remain disciplined, peaceful, and constitutional.

11. THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT MUST CLARIFY ITS POSITION

UIY calls on the Delta State Government to publicly clarify its position on the disputed delineation and the concerns raised by affected communities.

We are particularly concerned about allegations that relevant information may not have been adequately communicated to the National Security Adviser and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We call for transparency regarding any representations made to the relevant federal authorities and urge the state government to ensure that all material evidence concerning the dispute is brought to their attention.

The government must demonstrate that it is committed to justice, peace, and compliance with applicable court decisions rather than allowing uncertainty to persist.

12. OUR DEMANDS TO INEC AND THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES

In light of these serious concerns, the Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths hereby demands the following:

1. Immediate public explanation: INEC must explain the methodology, legal basis, and geographical evidence supporting the disputed Warri Federal Constituency delineation.

2. Publication of official records: The commission must publish the relevant maps, coordinates, ward descriptions, polling-unit registers, and administrative documents supporting the disputed assignments.

3. Independent verification of coordinates: All disputed geographical coordinates should be independently examined to establish whether they correspond to the actual locations and administrative areas identified.

4. Review of disputed wards and polling units: The reported assignments involving Okere, Pessu, Ewein, Ubeji, Ugbuwangue, Orere, Bowen, Dore Numa Market, Mowoe Primary School, Delta Boat Yard, the Naval Base, Bolouama Town Hall, Obokone Town Hall, Orupa Town Hall, and Oturubiri should be reviewed against official records and applicable law.

5. Compliance with judicial decisions: INEC and all relevant government institutions must demonstrate compliance with the applicable Supreme Court judgment and any other binding judicial orders.

6. Correction of unlawful assignments: Where the evidence establishes that a ward or polling unit has been wrongly assigned or altered unlawfully, INEC must take the appropriate corrective action in accordance with the law.

7. Suspension of disputed changes where legally justified: Where there is credible evidence of unlawful changes, the relevant authorities should take appropriate interim measures through lawful procedures while the dispute is examined.

8. Engagement with affected communities: INEC must provide an opportunity for the relevant communities and their legitimate representatives to present evidence and have their concerns addressed.

9. Federal oversight: We call on the President, the National Security Adviser, the National Assembly, and other relevant federal institutions to examine the allegations and ensure that the dispute is handled transparently and lawfully.

10. Protection of peace and democratic rights: All stakeholders must refrain from conduct that could inflame ethnic tensions while ensuring that no community is unfairly disadvantaged by unlawful electoral arrangements.

13. OUR FINAL POSITION: WARRI MUST NOT BECOME A THEATRE OF ELECTORAL INJUSTICE

The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths will not remain silent in the face of credible allegations that electoral arrangements in Warri Federal Constituency may have been manipulated in ways that undermine the rights and legitimate interests of indigenous communities.

We reject any attempt to use electoral administration to impose unlawful territorial arrangements, distort political representation, or disregard binding judicial decisions.

We call on INEC to remove or correct any disputed material shown by a proper review to be unlawful or inaccurate, and to ensure that the electoral structure reflects verifiable geographical and administrative realities.

Our message to INEC is clear: the people of Warri deserve transparency, not uncertainty; electoral justice, not manipulation; and the rule of law, not administrative arbitrariness.

Our message to the Federal and Delta State Governments is equally clear: the concerns raised by affected communities must not be ignored. They deserve a transparent, evidence-based response and a lawful resolution.

Our message to the youths of Warri is that vigilance, unity, courage, and discipline remain essential. We must defend our legitimate interests without surrendering to provocation or allowing our communities to be drawn into violence.

UIY will pursue this matter through every lawful, legitimate, and constitutional avenue available, including formal petitions, public advocacy, engagement with relevant institutions, and appropriate legal proceedings.

We will not abandon our responsibility to defend the political rights, historical identity, and legitimate interests of the Itsekiri people.

Signed:

Comr. Gbubemi Ejesi 

National Public Relations Officer (PRO) 

Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths (UIY)

×