Ethnic leaders and community representatives from the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups in Delta State’s Warri Federal Constituency have formally announced their boycott of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, citing the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) failure to implement a Supreme Court judgment ordering the delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the area.
In a bold and coordinated protest, hundreds of demonstrators drawn from Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas converged at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding immediate action from the electoral body. The protesters, adorned in cultural regalia and waving placards, made their grievances unmistakably clear with messages such as “Warri Federal Constituency: No Ward, No Units for CVR”, “CVR Today is Political Fraud in Warri Federal Constituency”, and “INEC, Give Us the Final Report.”
Speaking on behalf of the protesting communities, Chief David Reje of the Egbema Clan in Warri North Local Government Area accused INEC of ignoring both the Nigerian Constitution and a binding Supreme Court ruling by continuing voter registration based on what he described as an “obsolete and unconstitutional structure.”
“Our patience and cooperation are being taken for granted,” Chief Reje said during a press briefing at the protest. “Machinery has been set in motion to systematically disenfranchise our people from participating in future elections. We can no longer sit idly by while our rights enshrined in the Constitution and reaffirmed by the apex court are being trampled upon.”
Chief Reje underscored that their protest marked the second phase of a broader, non-violent campaign aimed at restoring political equity in the Warri Federal Constituency. He emphasized that the group had exhausted all peaceful channels of communication and were left with no alternative but to escalate their demand to the federal level.
The protesters insisted that INEC must immediately release and implement the delineation report, which they say will correct decades-long political marginalization and align the electoral structure of Warri with constitutional standards. According to them, continuing CVR under the defunct arrangement constitutes an illegal act and a deliberate effort to suppress their political voice.
“There can be no credible voter registration in Warri Federal Constituency without first implementing the delineation of wards and polling units as directed by the Supreme Court. The ongoing exercise is not just flawed; it is fraudulent,” Reje stated.
The group warned that they were under increasing pressure from their constituents, and if INEC failed to respond promptly and justly, they could not guarantee the continued peaceful nature of their agitation. They also hinted at the possibility of occupying INEC premises indefinitely if their demands remain unmet.
In response to the protest, INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Abdulzuru received the petition on behalf of the Commission and assured the groups that their concerns would be thoroughly reviewed.
“I have listened carefully to your demands and gone through your written submission. I will personally ensure that these documents are submitted to the Commission for deliberation,” Abdulzuru said. “INEC remains a law-abiding institution. There is no intention to disenfranchise any citizen or ethnic group. Rest assured, we will get back to you.”
He commended the groups for conducting their protest peacefully and urged continued dialogue as the Commission evaluates their claims.
The petition submitted to INEC bore the signatures of numerous high-profile community leaders and activists from the Warri region. Among the signatories were:
Dr. Joel Bisina, Oloroqun Victor Okumagba,
Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Chief John Eramvor, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, Chief Sylvester Femi Okumagba, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Chief Wilson Ogbodu, Chief Emmanuel Serondi, Chief (Mrs.) Ann Gagiyovwi (JP);
Other prominent figures included Rev. Samuel Ako, Amb. Jude Ebitimi Ukori (JP), Hon. Frank Pukon, Chief (Mrs.) Vero Emmanuel Tangbewei, and Comrade (Mrs.) Margaret Ikinbor.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria had previously delivered a ruling mandating the delineation of electoral wards and polling units within Warri Federal Constituency, citing gross underrepresentation and structural imbalances that have persisted for years. The Ijaw and Urhobo communities argue that continued elections under the current setup amount to constitutional violations and perpetuate decades-long political injustice.
Despite the court’s ruling, INEC has yet to act on the delineation, prompting the renewed wave of protests and civic action. The boycott of the CVR exercise by these communities signifies an escalating impasse that may have significant implications for the credibility of the 2027 general elections in the region.
