A group of Ijaw elders and youths held a solidarity rally on Thursday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, expressing support for the electoral body’s recent ward delineation exercise in Warri, Delta State.
The rally was attended by representatives from Gbaramatu, Egbema, Diebiri, and Isaba communities within the Warri federal constituency.
The demonstration came in response to the unveiling of the proposed delineated wards and polling units by INEC, a process that followed a Supreme Court ruling on December 2, 2022.
The court had ordered the delineation exercise, which INEC has been working to implement.
This rally follows a previous protest on April 9, when demonstrators shut down an oil facility in Warri South-West Local Government Area, with a capacity of 28,000 barrels per day, to voice opposition to the ward delineation proposal.
Despite the protests, INEC emphasized that no final decision has yet been made regarding the delineation of the wards in the constituency.
David Reje, spokesperson for the Ijaw kingdoms, spoke during the rally, praising INEC for adhering to the Supreme Court judgment and moving forward with the ward delineation process.
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“We are here to appreciate INEC for its commitment to the rule of law and for ensuring that the judgment was not ignored,” Reje stated.
He further rejected claims that INEC had failed to consult with local stakeholders before launching the delineation.
“The commission has engaged with the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo communities, and we all consented to the process,” he asserted, urging all parties involved to collaborate in building a robust democratic system.
Responding to the rally, Abdullahi Zuru, an official from INEC, expressed gratitude to the Ijaw community for their show of support.
“We sincerely thank you for coming here and for recognizing the efforts of the commission. We remain committed to upholding the rule of law in all our processes,” Zuru said.
The rally highlights ongoing tensions and concerns surrounding the ward delineation in Warri, but also showcases the support INEC has from significant local stakeholders in the region.