Following days of protests, allegedly leading to the loss of life, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, doused the tension among two warring communities in Delta State, blaming their reactions on what it described as misconceptions about the proposed delineation of wards in the Warri federal constituency by the order of the Supreme Court. 

Youths of the Itsekiri community, Warri, Delta State, have during the week condemned INEC over the creation of communities and wards in three local government areas in the state. They embarked on a peaceful protest at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja, stating their opposition to the Commission’s delineation, claiming it violated a Supreme Court judgement and disregarded established boundaries. 

They alleged that the delineation created unacceptable communities and wards that previously did not exist in Warri. INEC had, at a stakeholder meeting, presented a report on the delineation of wards and polling units to representatives of the three ethnic groups, Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo, in Asaba. 

The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Etekamba Umoren, while presenting the report, lauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for creating the enabling environment for the fieldwork operations. He said the exercise complied with a Supreme Court judgement on the delineation of wards in the Warri federal constituency.

He said, “The Report of the Fieldwork is a critical cornerstone towards the implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation of wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State. 

“Before we arrived at this point, a Stakeholders Meeting was first held at the INEC Delta State Office Conference Hall, Asaba, on 15 February 2023, followed by the Expanded Stakeholders Meeting, which was held in Asaba on 21st March 2024. 

Since then, peace has eluded the communities, with the youths alleging lopsidedness in the delineation report. 

But to douse the tension and stem the restiveness in the communities, INEC, in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, its National Commissioner and Chairman of, the Information & Voter Education Committee, on Thursday, INEC said it was yet to take action on the matter, adding that consultations are still ongoing.

The proposed delineation affected Wards in Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West Federal Constituency, as ordered by the Supreme Court in its judgement delivered on 2nd December 2022. 

The statement said, “Following the Supreme Court judgement, the Commission embarked on extensive consultations from February 2023 to July 2024 involving all the critical stakeholders, followed by fieldwork in all the communities in the three local government areas, culminating in the production of a draft report. 

“The Commission held further consultation with stakeholders in Warri last week on Friday, 4th April 2025, where copies of the draft report were presented to the representatives of each of the parties connected with the issue.

The purpose was to allow them to raise any concerns they might have. The overall objective was to arrive at an amicable agreement endorsed by all the parties involved.

“Therefore, contrary to the speculations making the rounds, the Commission is yet to take a final decision on the delineation of Wards in the Warri Federal Constituency.

“We urge representatives of the various stakeholders to submit their observations on the draft report, which will serve as the basis for further engagement on the matter.

Meanwhile, we appeal to all stakeholders in the constituency to refrain from engaging in any activity that could threaten the peace and security of the area.

“The Commission will continue to operate based on fairness, equity, the rule of law, and in full consultation with all stakeholders.” The statement concluded.