A determined yet peaceful protest by the Warri Indigenous Women Forum on Wednesday highlighted concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s re-delineation exercise, which the women claim poses a serious threat to the political existence of the Itsekiri people in Delta State.
The protesters urged INEC to halt the exercise immediately, cautioning that any action taken while court cases remain unresolved could constitute contempt of court and potentially destabilise peace in the Niger Delta.
They also appealed to the Federal Government, the United Nations, and the international community for intervention, describing the situation as having “grave political and humanitarian implications.”
The march concluded with the formal submission of a petition to INEC, delivered by the women’s delegation. Speaking on behalf of the forum, Mrs. Tenumah Alero, Chairperson of the Warri Indigenous Women Forum, led the submission, 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 their petition, the women criticised the re-delineation exercise, allegedly undertaken under the immediate past INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, arguing that it violates the fundamental political rights of the Itsekiri Nation, whose ancestral lands, they insist, are fully within the Warri Federal Constituency.
“It is an historical fact that the lands all around Warri Federal Constituency belong to the Itsekiri Nation, a fact known to the world long before the Amalgamation and Treaty,” the petition stated.
They linked the current dispute to a long history of marginalisation and violence against the Itsekiri people.
“Since 1999, there has been deliberate and coordinated efforts by our neighbours to exterminate the Itsekiri people of Warri Kingdom, through a well-planned criminal campaign of violence, displacement, and systematic marginalization,” the petition read.
The women claimed that investigations into the exercise reveal it to be fundamentally flawed and designed for political exclusion. They also accused INEC of disregarding ongoing legal proceedings, including Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CV/443/2025 at the Federal High Court and Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/1457/2025 before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
“Any further action by INEC on this matter, amounts to contempt of court and a direct threat to peace and order,” the petition stated.
The women further condemned reports that coordinate points were allegedly set in Edo and Ondo States, as well as parts of Delta State outside Warri Federal Constituency, allegedly to establish polling units for non-indigenes.
They also cited a December 2025 Court of Appeal judgment, Asaba Division (Appeal No. CA/AS/154/2024), affirming Itsekiri ownership of Ogbe-Ijoh community, insisting that INEC cannot legally act against this ruling.
“INEC cannot lawfully create or name a ward in that community contrary to this binding judgment,” the petition stated.
Warning of the potential consequences, the women stressed that if the exercise continues, the Itsekiri could become the only ethnic group in Nigeria without a local government of their own.
“The Federal Government should not allow the attempted ethnic cleansing, wrapped under the guise of re-delineation,” they said.
Mrs. Alero noted that the women were inspired to act after their children had earlier protested on the same issue.
“As a people, as mothers and as women, we decided to come today to clearly state that we are in full support of what our children came to do at that time.
“In furtherance of that, we have prepared a well-written petition, which we are formally submitting,” she added.
She also commended the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, for his support and leadership.
‘This Is Democracy in Action’ — INEC Responds
Speaking on behalf of INEC, Professor Zuru expressed gratitude for the women’s peaceful approach and assured them that their concerns would be reviewed by the Commission.
“This is democracy in action. Be assured that all submissions will be carefully reviewed,” he said.
The women, however, insisted that trust and confidence can only be restored if the exercise is completely suspended and replaced with a fresh, independent, and transparent re-delineation process conducted in accordance with the law and in the interest of peace, justice, and national unity.
