The indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State have warned that Nigeria might experience a drop in oil production occasioned by a breakdown of law and order if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to implement its final report on the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of wards in the constituency.

The warning was issued during a protest at the INEC's headquarters in Delta State, Asaba, nearly two weeks after the Commission presented its final delineation report to stakeholders with a promise for immediate implementation, but has failed to do so.

According to the Alaowei of Warri, Chief Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, while addressing the press during the protest, recalled how the INEC National Commissioner, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Tukur Yusuf, who represented the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), told stakeholders in Asaba that the report was the Commission’s decision on the fresh delineation and was approved for “immediate implementation.”

The presentation was also attended and witnessed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Delta State, Sir Etekambo Udo Umoren, and other senior INEC officials.

The final INEC report created additional registration areas/wards across Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West LGAs, and established two new state constituencies for Warri North and Warri South-West to expand representation for Warri Federal Constituency.

At the presentation, Mr. Yusuf stated that, given the limited timeframe before the 2027 general elections, INEC would “immediately direct political parties to conduct primaries” for candidates in the newly created state constituencies.

However, the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups said they were “shocked” that implementation had not begun almost two weeks after the presentation, with the deadline for political parties to submit candidate lists for 2027 fast approaching, and alleged the delay was due to “external interference by the Presidency,” which they claim ordered INEC to put implementation on hold. 

They argued that such interference violates Section 161 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees INEC’s independence, and Section 287(2), which mandates compliance with Supreme Court judgments.

“The Supreme Court gave a final decision in SC/413/2016: Hon. George U. Timinimi & Ors v. INEC. INEC is under a legal duty to comply with that order to its logical conclusion,” the protesters stated. “It is an aberration for INEC to surrender its constitutional independence to the Presidency or any individual or organ of government,” they asserted.

The protesters warned that failure to implement the report could destabilize the region, and recalled that the relocation of a local government headquarters in Warri contributed to the Warri Crisis of 1997-2003, which later escalated into the Niger Delta crisis that disrupted national oil production.

“We wish to alert the Nigerian people and the international community that INEC should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order, and disruption to oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta region,” they said, and cited risks to operations by companies including Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

The protesters also cautioned INEC against altering the final delineation report “to favour any ethnic group,” and expressed disappointment that the Commission, led by a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, would appear to prioritize “individuals in the Presidency” over a Supreme Court order.

In conclusion, the Ijaw and Urhobo groups called on INEC to direct political parties to conduct primaries for the newly created state constituencies in Warri North and Warri South-West LGAs, especially as the Ijaw people of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North LGA, for whom one new constituency was created after “over a century of political marginalization,” are eager to participate in the 2027 Delta State House of Assembly elections.

In receiving the protest letter signed “for and on behalf of the Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State", Osifo Kingsley, HOD, General Admin of Procurement, INEC, Delta State, said, "My boss is in Abuja for an urgent meeting. So on his behalf, I am taking this letter of protest, which I will certainly pass on to him. Then from there onward to Abuja. I want to thank you very much for making this protest as civil as possible. Thank you very much and God bless you," he stated.

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