The indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Delta State have alerted Nigerians and the international community on the alleged interference by the Presidency in the implementation of the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) final report of the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, warning that such interference is an attack on the 1999 Constitution which the President "swore on oath to observe and protect."

The ethnic groups from Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North LGAs making up the constituency, in a statement they issued on Monday (June 1, 2026), during a protest in Ogbe-Ijoh Market Warri, said they were shocked that 10 days after INEC presented its final report, precisely on May 20, 2026, its implementation has not started as promised by the Commission's National Commissioner, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Tukur Yusuf, on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN.

"We note that the deadline for conduct and submission of list of Candidates of political parties to contest the 2027 general elections is fast approaching," part of the statement reads, as the ethnic groups noted further that, "We have in good authority that INEC’s failure to immediately implement the report of the fresh delineation as promised, is as a result of external interference by the Presidency which ordered that the implementation of the final report be put on hold," they claimed.

While strongly condemning the interference by the Presidency, the group stated the position of the law as contained in Section 161 and Section 287 (2) of the 1999 Constitution to back up their position and call on the Commission to immediately implement the report.

"By section 161 of the 1999 Constitution, INEC is independent in the performance of its duties and the Presidency has no power whatsoever to direct INEC. The 1999 Constitution clearly state that INEC shall not be subjected to the direction and control of the President.

"Furthermore, by section 287 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, the judgment of the Supreme Court is final and all organs and agencies of government have a constitutional duty to implement orders of the supreme court without delay or hesitation. In this case, the Supreme Court gave a final decision in SC/413/2016: HON. GEORGE U. TIMINIMI & ORS V. INEC and therefore, the Presidency has no constitutional powers to stop its implementation," the statement reads.

The indigenous ethnic groups further dismissed the excuse of threat to national security being given by the National Security Adviser as reason for the non-implementation of the INEC report as an attempt to alter the final report to please the Itsekiris, warning that such should be avoided to avert crises.

"The threat to national security being alleged by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to stop the immediate implementation of the fresh delineation is only a subterfuge by the Presidency to alter the final report of the delineation to favour the Itsekiri ethnic group. If anybody or group is threatening the peace of Warri as a result of the implementation of the supreme court judgment, the office of the NSA should go after such a person and not to disrespect the Supreme Court orders.

"The Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri are faced with a similar situation as in 1952 when ethnic consideration by the Awolowo government of western region changed the title of the Itsekiri monarch from Olu of Itsekiri to Olu of Warri without considering the fact that Warri is a multi-ethnic administrative creation by the colonial government for the indigenous people of Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri," they added.

The indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo of Warri also stressed that in the new INEC delineation report "enough concessions have been made in favour of the Itsekiri ethnic group by increasing their Registration Areas/Electoral Wards from 4 (four) and 8 (eight) to 7 (seven) and 10 (ten) respectively in Warri South West and Warri North LGAs respectively, despite the fact that their population does not justify the increment," they noted.

They therefore called on the Presidency to allow INEC to do its job in compliance "with the dictates of the rule of law" independently without being pressured by external influences, and that INEC should immediately "direct political parties to conduct primaries to nominate candidates for the newly created state constituencies in Warri North and Warri South West LGAs" especially as the Ijaws of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North LGA who have been oppressed and suppressed over the years, are eager "to elect political party candidates to participate in the 2027 general elections into the Delta State House of Assembly."

They also warned of dire consequences if the the final INEC report should be altered, as they reminded the authorities of how the "relocation of a local government headquarters from an Ijaw community to an Itsekiri community led to the unfortunate Warri crisis of 1997 to 2003," and warned that "we must avoid a repeat of the past. A word is enough for the wise!" they cautioned.

Leaders from the ethnic groups in attendance during the protest and press briefing are High Chief Godspower Gbenekama (JP), Fiyewei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom; Chief Femi Okumagba, Chief John Edgar Eranvor, Chief Dembo Denbofa Oweikpodor, among others.

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