Warri Cannot Wait: Elders Demand Immediate Release of Supreme Court–Ordered Delineation
OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC
By Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency
We, the Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency, write with deep anger, heavy concern and a profound sense of responsibility to history and justice over the continued and unjustifiable delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission in announcing the final ward delineation result for Warri Federal Constituency, despite the clear and binding judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in SC/CV/1033/2022.
We must state clearly that the Supreme Court of Nigeria is the final authority on matters of law in this country. Its decisions are not advisory opinions. They are binding orders that every institution created under the Constitution must obey without hesitation or delay.
The Constitution itself leaves no room for ambiguity. Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that the decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in every part of the Federation by all authorities and persons.
INEC is a creation of the Constitution and therefore cannot place itself above the Constitution. The Commission does not possess the authority to determine which judgments of the Supreme Court it will obey and which it will indefinitely postpone.
Yet what we are witnessing in Warri today is a troubling display of institutional hesitation that undermines the very foundation of the rule of law.
The Supreme Court ordered a proper delineation of wards in Warri Federal Constituency. INEC carried out the exercise. Officials visited communities across the constituency. Geographic and demographic realities were examined. Boundaries were assessed and verified.
The work ordered by the highest court of the land has already been completed. But the Nigerian public is still waiting for the final result, this silence is unacceptable.
As elders who have witnessed the political history of Warri over many decades, we know too well that peace in our region depends on fairness, transparency and respect for justice. Any action that suggests manipulation, secrecy or delay in a matter of representation will inevitably generate suspicion and tension among communities.
Electoral wards form the foundation of democratic representation. Without a properly defined and publicly known ward structure, the legitimacy of any future electoral process in Warri Federal Constituency becomes questionable, democracy cannot operate only uncertainty.
The Supreme Court judgment was intended to restore balance and fairness in the electoral structure of Warri Federal Constituency. The delineation exercise was therefore not a favour to any group but a constitutional correction designed to ensure that representation reflects present realities, suppressing or delaying the result defeats the purpose of that judgment and undermines the authority of the Supreme Court itself.
We must also remind the nation that the history of Warri is deeply documented in colonial administrative records and scholarly works on the Niger Delta. British colonial intelligence reports and township administrative records from the early twentieth century described Warri as a region of interconnected riverine communities engaged in trade, navigation and settlement long before modern political boundaries were imposed.
Scholars such as Professor J. F. Ade Ajayi, Professor E. J. Alagoa and P. A. Talbot have documented the long-standing socio-political organization of communities across the creeks and coastal territories of the Niger Delta.
These historical realities demonstrate that Warri’s stability has always depended on fairness in governance and representation.
When lawful processes designed to correct electoral imbalances are delayed without explanation, the consequences extend beyond politics. They touch on peace, trust and the credibility of national institutions.
We must also express our concern that the prolonged silence surrounding this matter is creating the perception that powerful interests opposed to the publication of the delineation result are exerting pressure on the Commission. If this perception is allowed to grow unchecked, it will severely damage the reputation and independence of INEC.
Across Nigeria, when the Supreme Court delivers judgments affecting electoral structures or governance, institutions move quickly to comply. That is the essence of a democracy governed by law.
Why then must Warri be treated differently?
Why must a judgment of the Supreme Court become an endless waiting process?
Every additional day of silence deepens suspicion, fuels anxiety and places unnecessary strain on the fragile peace of Warri Federal Constituency.
Nigeria cannot afford to repeat the painful conflicts that once affected the Warri region. Responsible leadership must work to remove tension, not prolong uncertainty.
For this reason, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene immediately. The Presidency, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Assembly must ensure that the judgment of the Supreme Court is respected and implemented without further delay. The rule of law must remain the guiding principle of governance in Nigeria.
We therefore demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission immediately publish the final ward delineation result for Warri Federal Constituency in full compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court. Transparency is the only path to restoring confidence in this process.
The people of Warri Federal Constituency are not asking for privilege. We are asking for justice. We are asking for obedience to the Constitution. We are asking for respect for the authority of the Supreme Court.
INEC must act now.
Justice delayed for Warri is justice denied for Nigeria.
Signed:
Chief Tiemopere Joshua ~ President
Chief Ebikeke T. Goodstime ~ Secretary
Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency
Cc
The National Security Adviser NSA
The Governor
Delta State
The Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Civil society organizations involved in democracy and elections.