Warri Indigenous Women protest at INEC, demand halt to re-delineation exercise

By James Ike

A peaceful but determined protest by members of the Warri Indigenous Women Forum on Wednesday shifted national attention to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, as the women accused the Commission of carrying out a re-delineation exercise they claim threatens the political existence of the Itsekiri people in Delta State.

The women called for the immediate suspension of the exercise, warning that proceeding while court cases are pending could undermine peace in the Niger Delta.

The protesters also appealed to the Federal Government, the United Nations and the international community to intervene, describing the matter as one with serious political and humanitarian consequences.

The march culminated in the formal submission of a petition to INEC. The delegation was led by the Chairperson of the Warri Indigenous Women Forum, Mrs. Tenumah Alero, while INEC received the petition through Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, National Commissioner representing the North West, who spoke on behalf of the Commission’s leadership.

In the petition, the women faulted the re-delineation exercise allegedly conducted under the immediate past INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, arguing that it violates the political and fundamental rights of the Itsekiri Nation.

They insisted that the Itsekiri ancestral homeland lies entirely within the Warri Federal Constituency and described the exercise as part of a broader history of marginalisation, violence and displacement suffered by the people since 1999.

The women further alleged that investigations revealed serious flaws in the exercise, accusing INEC of disregarding ongoing legal proceedings, including a suit at the Federal High Court and an appeal currently before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

They warned that any further action by INEC could amount to contempt of court and pose a threat to peace and public order in the region.

They also condemned reports that coordinate points were allegedly fixed in Edo and Ondo States, as well as in parts of Delta State outside the Warri Federal Constituency, to create polling units for non-indigenes and non-residents. Citing a December 2025 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division, which affirmed Itsekiri ownership of Ogbe-Ijoh community, the women argued that INEC lacks the legal authority to act contrary to the ruling, warning that the exercise could leave the Itsekiri as the only ethnic nationality without a local government of their own.

Speaking at the protest, Mrs. Alero said the women were compelled to act after earlier demonstrations by their children over the same issue, stressing that the petition reflected their collective position.

Responding on behalf of INEC, Professor Zuru commended the women for their peaceful conduct and assured them that the petition would be formally presented to the Commission for consideration, noting that INEC operates through collective decision-making, even as the women maintained that only a complete suspension of the exercise would restore confidence and safeguard peace.