The Senate has resolved to investigate the ongoing delineation exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State following concerns of alleged marginalization and irregularities raised in a petition before the upper chamber Wednesday.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South), titled “Urgent Need for Intervention to Prevent Imminent Political Crisis Over the INEC Delineation Exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State”.
In his lead debate, Senator Lalong said the motion was informed by a petition from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, forwarded to the Senate committee on electoral matters, alleging unjust treatment and marginalization of the Itsekiri people in the recent INEC ward delineation exercise.
According to him, the petitioners claimed that while two communities, Gbaramatu and Oporoza which previously had one ward each, were increased to eight out of the nineteen wards created in Warri South-West Local Government Area, while the Itsekiri community which earlier had six wards, was reduced to five.
The development, he stated, has triggered tension and accusations of bias.
Senator Lalong added that the petitioners further alleged that the INEC report of April 4, 2025 did not accurately reflect the realities on the ground across the three local government areas that make up Warri Federal Constituency.
He noted that the report had also drawn objections from sections of the Ijaw community of Ogbe-Ijo and some Urhobo groups, who cited inconsistencies and errors in the delineation exercise.
He underscored that INEC’s constitutional mandate, as outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), focuses on ensuring credible elections and does not extend to engaging in ethnic profiling or altering local demographic balances.
The Senate subsequently resolved to refer the motion to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters as well as the Committee on electoral matters, directing them to investigate the allegations and report back within four weeks.
