Warri Reclamation Thrust Petitions INEC, Demands INEC Discards “Fraudulent” Ward Delineation Report

Abuja, Nigeria — June 30, 2025

A prominent advocacy group, Warri Reclamation Thrust, has raised the alarm over what it described as a monumental fraud perpetrated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its recent ward delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State. The group has called on INEC to immediately discard the current delineation report, which it said was riddled with “manipulations, distortions, and illegalities.”

During a presentation to the INEC Commissioner who received the petition in Abuja, the group unveiled a detailed analysis based on the coordinates provided by INEC. Using Google Earth mapping technology, Warri Reclamation Thrust plotted and examined the geospatial data, revealing shocking inconsistencies in the newly proposed electoral wards.

According to the group, INEC’s delineation exercise deliberately and fraudulently altered geographical and political realities to the detriment of the Itsekiri people, the indigenous majority in the Warri Federal Constituency, in favour of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups, many of whom are said to be customary tenants in the area.

Allegations of Fraud and Misconduct

Warri Reclamation Thrust outlined several allegations against INEC, including:

1. Importation of Non-Delta Communities: INEC allegedly imported communities from Edo and Ondo States into Warri North LGA to create artificial wards favoring Ijaw settlements.

2. Territorial Expansion from Other LGAs: Communities from Ughelli South, Udu, and Burutu LGAs were reportedly included in Warri South-West LGA, further distorting the constituency’s boundaries.

3. Creation of Fictitious Communities: INEC is accused of inventing non-existent communities, which is beyond its legal mandate, in order to inflate Ijaw representation.

4. Renaming of Itsekiri Communities: Authentic Itsekiri communities were allegedly renamed with Ijaw nomenclature, giving the impression of a larger Ijaw population and more wards.

5. Illegal Boundary Adjustments: INEC, which has no legal authority to adjust inter-state or inter-LGA boundaries, allegedly redrew parts of Warri Federal Constituency to include areas outside its legal confines.

6. Usurpation of NPC Functions: INEC reportedly made population assumptions contrary to data from the National Population Commission, affecting the demographic basis for ward creation.

7. Creation of Phantom Settlements: Several wards were said to be created on rivers and forests with no physical structures or residents, violating electoral guidelines.

Petitions and Demands for Investigation

In response to these revelations, Warri Reclamation Thrust confirmed that it has submitted formal petitions to over 30 government bodies, including:

The Presidency

The Senate President

The Speaker of the House of Representatives

The National Security Adviser

The Inspector General of Police

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)

The Department of State Services (DSS)

The group is also demanding the immediate arrest and investigation of key INEC officials involved in the exercise. Notably:

Prof. Rhoda Gumus, an INEC National Commissioner alleged to be a member of the Ijaw Leaders of Thought, Mr Joseph Elemson, a prominent ijaw leader, and other team lead for the delineation project.

Warri Reclamation Thrust is calling for a forensic audit of the financial accounts of these officials before, during, and after the delineation exercise, citing possible financial inducement and compromise.

Historical Context and Legal Grounds

The group also referenced multiple court judgments up to the Supreme Court, affirming the Itsekiri as the historical and legal landlords of the Warri territory. They argue that the INEC exercise violates not only constitutional provisions but also judicial precedents and territorial integrity.

As tensions simmer, the group reiterated its commitment to peaceful advocacy but warned that the continued marginalization and disenfranchisement of the Itsekiri people through bureaucratic manipulation could provoke constitutional and legal resistance.