Warri Elders Explode in Fierce Open Letter, Accuse INEC of “Constitutional Defiance” Over Delayed Ward Delineation Result
By Paul Ebi
A fresh wave of tension has hit Delta State as the Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency on Friday issued a fiercely worded open letter accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of “deliberate obstruction” and “constitutional defiance” for failing to publish the final ward delineation result ordered by the Supreme Court.
The letter, dated November 28, 2025, and addressed to the Federal Government, National Security Adviser, and the INEC Chairman, expressed what the elders described as “constitutional outrage, historical clarity and generational truth,” insisting that the prolonged delay has crossed the threshold of legality and fairness.
The elders referenced the Supreme Court judgment in Hon. George Timinimi & Others v. INEC (SC/CV/1033/2022), which mandated a fresh delineation exercise for the Warri Federal Constituency. According to them, INEC has completed the process but has been “holding the results hostage.
They alleged that the Commission’s silence is “no longer administrative” but a calculated effort to avoid publishing demographic realities that, they claim, favour the Ijaw and Urhobo populations over the longstanding Itsekiri minority political dominance. The group accused INEC of bowing to “ethnic pressure,” warning that such a stance undermines both democracy and constitutional supremacy.
Quoting multiple sections of the 1999 Constitution, including those addressing population-based delineation, equality, and obedience to court orders, the elders argued that INEC’s inaction constitutes a breach of several constitutional provisions.
They also referenced historical accounts, colonial records, oral traditions, and various legal cases—including the famous Dore Numa litigations—to support their insistence that Warri has always been a multi-indigenous region rather than, in their words, “a mono-ethnic feudal territory.”
The statement further asserted that “Nigeria is watching, Warri is watching, and the world is watching,” warning that prolonged silence could erode public confidence in one of Nigeria’s most sensitive institutions. While stressing that their warning is not a threat, the group said justice delayed is already “testing the limits of public patience.”
The elders demanded immediate publication of the final delineation results, “not later, not after another technical excuse,” and called on the Federal Government, the NSA, and the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene swiftly to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court judgment.
They concluded with a resolute stance:“We will not accept illegal wards. We will not register under injustice. We will not bow to ethnic domination. We will not participate in any process built on suppression.”@The open letter was signed by Chief Tiemopere Joshua (President) and Chief Ebikeke T. Goodstime (Secretary), on behalf of the Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency .
INEC has not yet issued an official response to the allegations as of the time of this report.
