The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the report on the Supreme Court-ordered delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency, putting an end to months of controversy and agitation surrounding the exercise in Delta State.
Stakeholders Meeting in Asaba
The report was unveiled during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held in Asaba, which was attended by representatives of the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, along with top INEC officials. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Unoren, presented the outcome of the delineation exercise.
Key Findings of the Report
The report showed that Warri North I, dominated by the Itsekiri, has 10 wards, while Warri North II, largely populated by the Ijaw, also has 10 wards. In Warri South-West, the report allocated seven wards to Warri South-West II (Itsekiri) and 13 wards to Warri South-West I (Ijaw). For Warri South Local Government Area, INEC created a total of 20 wards, distributed among the ethnic groups as follows: Urhobo — nine wards, Itsekiri — eight wards, and Ijaw — three wards.
Implications for State Constituencies
The report also indicated that the Urhobo and Ijaw communities would now share one State Constituency I in Warri South, while the Itsekiri would occupy a separate state constituency. INEC further disclosed that additional federal constituencies were proposed for the Ijaws and Itsekiris in Warri North and Warri South-West, subject to constitutional amendment and approval by the National Assembly.
