Hundreds of Ijaw indigenes from the Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State on Monday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, pressing for the immediate implementation of a Supreme Court-backed ward delineation report in the area.

The demonstrators, operating under the banner of Operation Rescue Ijaw Nation Crusaders, accused the electoral commission of failing to act despite earlier assurances that the matter would be addressed.

They warned that continued delay in implementing the report could threaten the conduct of future elections in the constituency.

Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the group’s Deputy Coordinator, Freeborn Abraye, said the protest was aimed at compelling INEC to obey the apex court ruling directing a fresh delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.

“Myself and my fellow comrades are here to plead with INEC to implement the Supreme Court-ordered delineation report for the Warri Federal Constituency. This is the second time we are coming here. The first time, INEC told us they would get back to us positively, but more than a year later, nothing has been done,” he said.

Abraye explained that the Supreme Court had mandated INEC to redraw wards and polling structures in the constituency after complaints of political imbalance involving the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities.

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He alleged that the Ijaw and Urhobo communities had remained politically disadvantaged for years, while the Itsekiri group allegedly enjoyed disproportionate representation.

“The Supreme Court directed INEC to carry out a fresh delineation exercise, which it did. But after the exercise, INEC has refused to implement the report. We are here to call on INEC to implement it,” he added.

The protest leader argued that the delay was fueling political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.

“This is a matter of fairness, democratic representation, and respect for due process. INEC conducted the exercise in collaboration with representatives of the three ethnic groups. So why is the commission afraid to implement the report it prepared?” he queried.

Abraye further claimed that residents of the constituency had also been left out of recent Continuous Voter Registration exercises, alleging a deliberate attempt to suppress their political participation.

“We are not second-class citizens in this country. The Ijaws of Warri Federal Constituency have been marginalised for over two decades. It took more than 10 years before the Supreme Court finally gave this order, and now INEC wants to disenfranchise us again,” he said.

He warned that the group’s patience was running out and hinted that subsequent actions might be more intense.

“If there is no implementation of the delineation report, there will be no election in Warri Federal Constituency. We are on the side of justice and fairness,” he added.

Another leader of the protest, Ellington Bakumor, accused the electoral body of stalling implementation despite the inclusive nature of the delineation process.

“The results were fair because all parties were involved. So what is the issue? Why is INEC disenfranchising us?” he asked.

Bakumor also alleged that political interests were influencing the commission’s hesitation and cautioned that peaceful polls might not be guaranteed if the matter remained unresolved.

“We are tired of begging. This is the second time we are coming here from Warri to Abuja to ask INEC to do the needful. If INEC fails to act, we can no longer guarantee elections in Warri Federal Constituency,” he said.

In a petition submitted to INEC and endorsed by the group’s coordinator, Awipi Lawson, the protesters said their action was intended to defend the rule of law through enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 2, 2022, in Hon. George Timinimi & Others v. INEC (SC.413/2016).

According to the petition, the apex court directed INEC to carry out a fresh and constitutionally compliant delineation of wards and polling units across Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West local government areas.

The group stated that the judgment also barred elections and other electoral activities in the constituency pending completion and implementation of the delineation exercise.

They noted that although INEC conducted the exercise and released a field report on April 4, 2025, the commission had yet to operationalise or officially release the final report.

The protesters urged the electoral body to immediately publish and implement the report, complete the gazetting process and halt every electoral activity in the constituency until the exercise is fully enforced.

Responding to the demonstrators on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Mohammed Ahmad, an Assistant Director of Security at the commission, explained that the chairman and national commissioners were away on official duties but assured the protesters that their petition would receive attention.

“Whatever has been wrong, we will try to make it right. Expect the response of the chairman on this document,” Ahmad said.