Recently, and ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, kick-started on Monday, August 18, 2025, a nationwide pre-registration exercise of new voters aged 18 years and above, while its physical registration of voters began on Monday, August 25, 2025, across its 811 State and Local Government offices, an exercise that will run for one year until August 30, 2026.

Meanwhile, in a Supreme Court (SC) judgement occasioned by Suit No. SC/413/2016 instituted by Hon. George U. Timinimi and ors VS INEC Commission in relation to wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State, the SC noted as follows:

“It is their contention that there are in existence FICTITIOUS WARDS, that in some instances, MULTIPLE WARDS are located in SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS while the wards and units in some other areas are INADEQUATE vis-à-vis the POPULATION. It is also contended that the REGISTRATION OF VOTERS in some instances were done in private homes. On the whole, the FAILURE of the respondent to deliberately carry out its statutory duty in this regard has led to a series of IRREGULARITY in the process of voter’s registration which in turn WILL AFFECT the outcome of any FUTURE ELECTIONS NEGATIVELY."

Consequently, on December 2, 2022, the SC ordered INEC as follows: “AN ORDER of this honourable court compelling the defendant, its agents, servants, privies and assigns to CONDUCT A FRESH DELINEATION OF ALL THAT ELECTORAL WARDS/POLLING UNIT for Warri South-West, Warri North and Warri South local government areas of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State for the PURPOSE OF FUTURE ELECTIONS.”

While INEC had conducted the fresh delineation exercise in July 2024 and submitted its report on its field works across the three local government areas of Warri South-West, Warri North, and Warri South on April 2025, the Commission (as at the time of this report) had failed to implement the outcome of the report.

Addressing a World Press Conference at The KFT Place in Warri, on Monday, August 25, 2025, on the SC ordered fresh delineation of electorial wards and on the ongoing Continuous Voters' Registration (CVR) exercise by INEC, the indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in their issued statement that was signed by top leaders: Olorogun Victor Okumagba (JP), Hon. Deinbofa Oweikpodor, Dr Joel Bisina, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Rev. Samuel Ako, Chief Emmanuel Sekondi, Hon. Frank Pukon, Amb. Jude Ebitimi Ukori (JP), Chief David Reje, Comrade (Mrs) Margaret Ikinbor, Chief Monday Keme, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Sylvester Femi Okumagba, Chief Wilson Ogbodu, and Chief Mrs Ann Gagiyovwi (JP); noted that with the SC judgement delivered, all former wards and polling units in the Constituency had ceased to exist.

They said, "The Supreme Court ordered judgment drawn upon INEC to delineate fresh wards and units in Warri presupposes that hitherto existed wards were flawed and does not satisfy statutory requirement for credible future elections;

"That in the Supreme Court ordered judgement on INEC, the operative words are to 'conduct fresh delineation', in the eyes of the law, there are no longer in existence electoral wards and units in Warri until the fresh exercise is concluded;

"That it is criminal, illegal and contemptuous of the Supreme Court judgement by INEC, proceeding with the registration of voters in Warri Federal Constituency as there are no longer in existence electoral wards and units upon which the ongoing voter’s registration can stand. According to Lord Denning in the landmark case of UAC Vs McToy (1963) 'You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand'," the group noted.

As further revealed by the indigenous ethnic groups on earlier engagements with INEC stated that, "In compliance with the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation, INEC held several critical stakeholders meetings with representatives of the indigenous ethnic groups in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Specifically, INEC held a stakeholder meeting on February 2, 2023, to inform stakeholders of the judgement delivered in George Timinimi & Nine ors VS the INEC and pleaded that they should be allowed to complete the 2023 electoral process which had started before the judgement was delivered, a plea stakeholder obliged INEC.

"A follow-up stakeholders meeting was held on the 4th of April, 2023 where presentations were made on the guidelines for the field exercise by INEC. These stakeholders’ meetings culminated into weeks of stakeholders and INEC field works upon which a report was presented to stakeholders on the 4th of April 2025 in Asaba, the Delta State capital, for review, with an expected proofread version incorporating minor corrections."

However, while they lamented INEC's delay in the implementation of its report several months after submission, they noted that the Commission has instead swung into action to conduct voters registration ahead of future elections in the Constituency, a move the group accused the Commission of compromising its independence due to selfish interests from certain parties.

"Five months after the presentation, INEC has not been able to publish the final report, rather they have decided to commence a future election process in gross violation of the Supreme Judgement. We are fully convinced that INEC seemingly compromised independence, lack of resolve, and vulnerability to selfish external influence has delayed the release and implementation of this crucial report, which is vital to defining and enhancing the democratic participation of the indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri Federal Constituency."

Going further, they demanded the immediate release of the report and its implementation by the Commission, and declared further that, "We shall not idly stand by and watch our democratic rights and franchise fretted away by INEC’s lawlessness and disastrous irresponsibility," while it warned that, "A stitch in time saves nine."

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