Nearly two years after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the contentious delineation of Wards in Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the final decision is still on hold.
In a statement released Thursday, Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chair of the Information and Voter Education Committee, addressed growing speculations around the issue—firmly labeling them as misleading.
According to Olumekun, INEC has not reached a conclusive position on the boundary adjustments ordered by the court in December 2022. Instead, he said, the commission has been walking a deliberate and inclusive path, engaging stakeholders across affected communities from February 2023 to July 2024.
“We’ve conducted fieldwork, listened to voices from every corner of Warri’s diverse landscape, and produced a draft report based on those findings,” Olumekun stated. Just last week, the draft was formally shared with local representatives during a high-level consultation meeting in Warri.
But despite circulating rumors suggesting that lines had already been drawn, Olumekun stressed:
“No final decision has been made.”
INEC is now calling on community leaders, political stakeholders, and residents to share their observations on the draft report to guide the next steps. The goal, they say, is to find a consensus that reflects fairness, peace, and inclusivity.
And with tensions simmering in some quarters, INEC issued a word of caution:
“Let’s not allow misinformation or political interests to stir conflict. This process is far from over, and dialogue is still very much on the table.”
For now, Warri’s federal constituency remains in a state of anticipation—waiting for the official redraw of its political map to be penned in ink, not rumor.
