Warri Ijaw, Urhobo groups accuse Tinubu of interfering in INEC delineation exercise

Ijaw-Urhobo group accuse President Tinubu of undermining a Supreme Court-backed electoral delineation exercise in Warri, raising fresh concerns over the independence of INEC and the rule of law ahead of the 2027 elections.

A group known as the Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo People of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State has accused President Bola Tinubu of interfering with the implementation of a Supreme Court judgement on the delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the constituency.

In an open letter dated 5 June and addressed to the president, the groups alleged that the Presidency directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to halt further implementation of its recently released delineation report for Warri Federal Constituency.

The groups said such interference, if true, would undermine the rule of law, the independence of INEC and the authority of the Supreme Court.

The allegations follow lingering tensions among ethnic nationalities in the oil-rich Warri Federal Constituency over the implementation of a Supreme Court judgement that ordered a fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West local government areas.

The letter was signed by Olorogun Okumagba, Paul Bebenimibo, Joel Bislaa, Ako Samuel, Akpodibakaye Authur, John Eramuor, and Alaowe Denbola on behalf of the group.

Supreme Court judgement

The group recalled that on 2 December 2022, the Supreme Court, in suit SC/413/2016 between George Timinimi and others and INEC, ordered the electoral commission to conduct a fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the three local government areas comprising the federal constituency.

According to the group, the judgement followed more than a decade of litigation over what they described as longstanding political marginalisation of the Ijaw people in the area.

It said INEC subsequently commenced implementing the judgement through a series of stakeholder engagements and field exercises.

According to the letter, fieldwork was conducted in July 2024, while a proposed delineation report was presented to stakeholders in April 2025 for comments and observations.

The group said INEC released its final report on 20 May and proposed the creation of two additional state constituencies in Warri North and Warri South-West local government areas.

It added that the commission also recommended the creation of an additional federal constituency covering the two councils, subject to constitutional procedures.

The group described the report as a major step towards addressing longstanding demands for greater political representation in the area.

Allegations against Presidency

However, the groups claimed that celebrations following the release of the report were cut short by reports that the Presidency had directed INEC to suspend further implementation of the delineation exercise following objections from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality.

It further alleged that the purported intervention was influenced by President Tinubu’s marital ties to the Itsekiri ethnic group. The group, however, did not provide evidence of the alleged directive.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported in May that a prominent Itsekiri elder had sought the intervention of the federal government against violence that stems from the delineation crisis.

The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo People of Warri Federal Constituency argued that any presidential intervention in implementing the Supreme Court judgement would amount to an attack on constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

Citing Section 287(1) of the Constitution, the groups said all authorities and persons in Nigeria are required to enforce decisions of the Supreme Court.

It also referenced Section 160(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the operational independence of INEC, arguing that the commission should be allowed to implement the delineation report without external interference.

“The constitutional independence of INEC in the performance of its duties should be respected by all agencies and organs of the Federal Government in the interest of the rule of law and democracy,” the group said.

Demands

The group called on the Presidency to refrain from the alleged interference with INEC’s implementation of the Supreme Court judgement and urged the federal government to allow the electoral commission complete independence in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

It argued that respecting both the Supreme Court judgement and INEC’s independence was necessary to safeguard democracy and prevent further tensions in the Warri Federal Constituency.

Presidency, INEC keep mum

Neither the Presidency nor INEC had publicly responded to the allegations contained in the open letter.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, seeking clarification on the allegations contained in the letter.

Specifically, this newspaper asked whether the Presidency had issued any directive or communication to INEC regarding the implementation of the Warri delineation report released on 20 May; whether it was aware of any decision to suspend, delay or review the exercise; and its position on allegations that political pressure was being exerted on the electoral commission.

PREMIUM TIMES also sought the Presidency’s response to concerns that any intervention could undermine INEC’s constitutional independence and the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement on fresh delineation in Warri Federal Constituency.

Further enquiries focused on whether President Tinubu had received representations from any ethnic or political groups on the matter, whether the federal government supported the implementation of INEC’s final report ahead of the 2027 elections, and how the Presidency intended to address competing claims by Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri stakeholders while preserving public confidence in democratic institutions.

Mr Onanuga had not responded to the enquiry as of the time of filing this report.

PREMIUM TIMES also sought clarification from INEC on the allegations contained in the open letter.

In a media enquiry addressed to the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, this newspaper asked whether the commission had received any directive, communication, request or advice from the Presidency or any other arm of government concerning the implementation of its final delineation report released on 20 May.

PREMIUM TIMES also sought to know whether INEC was proceeding with the implementation of the report or whether any aspect of the process had been suspended, delayed, reviewed or reconsidered. The newspaper further requested details of the safeguards the commission had put in place to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court judgement and protect its constitutional independence.

The enquiry also sought INEC’s response to allegations that external political or ethnic interests were influencing the implementation of the delineation exercise, as well as the commission’s timeline and next steps for implementing the report ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Mr Haruna had not responded to the enquiry as of the time of filing this report.

The controversy adds a new dimension to the politically sensitive debate over representation and electoral boundaries in Warri, where the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities have historically contested issues relating to political power and resource allocation.