PRESS BRIEFING | DELINEATION OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

-Special Report-

TVC News Broadcast on Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Dispute

In a charged and deeply consequential live broadcast aired on TVC News, the spotlight turned to the escalating tensions surrounding the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State.

The broadcast featured impassioned voices from various ethnic groups, civil society organizations, and legal experts, all converging to address what they described as a constitutional crisis and a blatant disregard for judicial authority.

Central to the discussion was the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment delivered on December 2, 2022, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units across Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas. The ruling was hailed as a corrective measure to address years of alleged marginalization and electoral irregularities that disproportionately affected the Ijaw and Urhobo communities. However, the broadcast revealed that INEC has yet to implement the final delineation report, despite convening stakeholder meetings and presenting a draft in April 2025.

Representatives of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) were prominently featured, condemning INEC’s ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Warri as unconstitutional and contemptuous of the Supreme Court’s directive. They argued that proceeding with voter registration without completing the delineation exercise undermines democracy and signals institutional lawlessness. HURIWA’s coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, called for immediate action from the presidency, National Assembly, and judiciary to compel INEC to obey the court order.

The broadcast also captured the voices of the Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo leaders, who held a press conference earlier in Warri. They accused INEC of being compromised and warned that any electoral process conducted under the current flawed structure would be null and void. The leaders cited historical grievances and referenced the violent crises of the late 1990s and early 2000s as cautionary tales of what could unfold if justice is not served.

Adding another layer of complexity, the Itsekiri ethnic group publicly rejected the delineation report, claiming it unfairly favored other ethnicities and shortchanged their representation. Their spokesperson, Sunny Mene, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the allocation of wards and polling units, asserting that the process lacked transparency and equity.

The broadcast concluded with footage of peaceful protests and community mobilization efforts, underscoring the urgency and emotional weight of the issue. Protesters demanded fair representation and warned of further civil actions if INEC fails to act.

The program served not only as a platform for airing grievances but also as a clarion call for institutional accountability and democratic integrity in Nigeria’s electoral system.