Itsekiri Seek Additional Wards, Fault INEC Mapping

The Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality on Wednesday demanded an increase in electoral wards in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, proposing that the existing six Itsekiri wards and four Ijaw wards in both councils be doubled.

The demand, which would result in 12 Itsekiri wards and eight Ijaw wards in each of the two LGAs, was presented as the group’s “irreducible minimum position” during a world press conference held at Ubeji Town Hall in Warri, Delta State.

The position was contained in a statement read on behalf of the Itsekiri people by Sir Amorighoye Mene, who said the ethnic nationality rejected the ward, polling unit and constituency delineation proposal released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 20, 2026.

The statement was signed on behalf of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality by Chief Edward Ekpoko, Chairman of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought; Prince Yemi Emiko; Sir A.S Mene, Secretary of ILOT, Chief Robinson Ariyo and Mr. Alex Eyengho.

The group maintained that while it supports lawful electoral reforms and the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency, the current proposal falls short of constitutional and legal requirements.

The Itsekiri alleged that independent experts who reviewed the exercise discovered technical flaws, including polling units allegedly located in rivers, swamps and areas outside recognised local government boundaries, as well as the omission of several Itsekiri communities in Warri South from the commission’s field report.

The group, however, endorsed the proposed creation of additional state constituencies for Warri North and Warri South-West as well as an additional federal constituency within the existing Warri Federal Constituency.

It also called on the Federal Government to investigate the delineation exercise and urged INEC to suspend reliance on the disputed fieldwork and GIS mapping data pending an independent and transparent technical verification.

Speaking after the presentation, Prince Yemi Emiko said the Itsekiri people would not be intimidated and called on the Federal Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser to closely monitor developments surrounding the delineation process.

Scores of Itsekiri youths and other stakeholders attended the press conference.