Protests over the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State escalated on Tuesday as Itsekiri youths stormed the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, demanding a fresh delineation exercise.
The protesters, operating under the banners of Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths and the Warri Reclamation Thrust (WRT), accused INEC of sidelining Itsekiri communities in the exercise, which they described as unfair, unconstitutional and capable of disenfranchising indigenous people of the area.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the youths insisted that the delineation carried out on April 4, 2025, stripped the Itsekiri people of political relevance within Warri Federal Constituency.
National President of Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths, Joseph Okotie, said the group was not opposed to the court judgment mandating delineation but rejected what he described as the transfer of Itsekiri wards to other groups.
According to him, the exercise reduced Itsekiri wards from 10 to six, effectively making them “tenants in their own land,” a situation he said was unacceptable.
Convener of the Warri Reclamation Thrust, Bright Omaghomi, alleged that more than 90 per cent of the delineation outcome was riddled with errors, adding that Itsekiri communities were renamed to favour other groups and tilt political power against them.
Omaghomi accused INEC of failing to respond meaningfully to multiple petitions submitted by the group, expressing a lack of confidence in assurances previously given by electoral officials.
Also speaking, Tsaye Mene, First Vice President of Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths, called on INEC to reverse what she described as an illegal exercise, warning that failure to act could heighten ethnic tensions in the area.
She further demanded the arrest and investigation of INEC staff allegedly involved in the exercise and called on the commission to apologise to the people of Warri Federal Constituency to restore public confidence.
The protesters urged the electoral body to conduct a new ward delineation exercise that would carry all stakeholders along and reflect historical ownership and constitutional provisions.
Friday Olokor,
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