The Itsekiri Nation has called on the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alleged to be culpable in the controversial ward and polling unit delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.
At an enlarged media briefing in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday, prominent Itsekiri leaders described the INEC report on the exercise as “fraudulent” and “a great embarrassment” to the commission.
Addressing journalists, Chief Brown Mene, flanked by members of the Warri Reclamation Thrust, Bright Omaghomi and Tsaye Mene, alleged that compromised INEC officials created “phantom polling units and wards” in the Warri Federal Constituency. He urged the Federal Government to establish an independent commission of inquiry into the matter.
While stressing that the Itsekiri Nation is not opposed to the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order on the re-delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, Chief Mene noted that technical analyses of the coordinates used by INEC showed discrepancies with actual locations on the ground.
The group demanded full implementation of judicial pronouncements, including the Court of Appeal’s judgment affirming the ten-ward structure in Warri South Local Government Area, which it noted “has not been challenged on appeal.”
Also speaking, Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Sir Sunny Amorighoye Mene, faulted INEC’s approach, clarifying that the Supreme Court never declared Warri’s wards, polling units, or voters’ register as fake or fictitious.
Citing Section 40(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, he stressed that INEC is mandated only to establish adequate polling units within existing wards using its voters’ register—not to create or recognize communities, alter local government areas, or conduct population assessments.
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“INEC has overstepped its powers by compiling lists of communities in Warri South-West, Warri North, and Warri South LGAs, relying on aerial views and Google maps, and even attempting to determine ownership of territories. These actions are ultra vires, unconstitutional, and therefore invalid,” Sir Mene declared.
The leaders insisted that INEC must restrict itself to lawful provisions, warning that any attempt to deviate undermines judicial authority and threatens peace in Warri Federal Constituency.
