Row in Senate Over Warri Constituency Delineation

…Lawmakers Clash on “Legislative Interference” in INEC’s Electoral Powers

By Yinka Giwa

A heated debate erupted in the Senate yesterday over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, as lawmakers clashed on whether the National Assembly should wade into a process clearly within INEC’s constitutional authority.

The controversy stemmed from a motion sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South) titled “Urgent Need for Intervention to Prevent Imminent Political Crisis Over the INEC Delineation Exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.” The motion, based on a petition from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, alleged marginalisation and called for a legislative review of the exercise.

According to the petition, two Ijaw 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, who had six wards, were reduced to five. The petitioners also accused INEC of using wrong geographical coordinates, allegedly placing some Delta communities within neighbouring Edo and Ondo States.

But the motion immediately met stiff resistance from Senators Joel Onowakpo (APC, Delta South) and Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), who cautioned that the Senate must not interfere with INEC’s work. Both lawmakers noted that delineation is an exclusive function of the Commission as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and warned that the motion risked undermining the independence of the electoral body.

Onowakpo reminded his colleagues that the issue was already before the Federal High Court in Warri, arguing that any Senate inquiry would amount to prejudice. His objection grew louder when Lalong mentioned that the matter was “a reference even from the Villa,” prompting Onowakpo to interject sharply, “Oh, so it came from the Villa?” He maintained that the Senate had no business reopening a matter before a competent court of law.

Backing him, Senator Dafinone observed that previous court attempts to compel INEC to revisit the delineation had failed, a clear indication that the Commission’s actions were lawful and in line with existing judgments. “INEC alone has the power to create or adjust electoral boundaries,” he insisted. “We must not substitute political emotion for legal authority.”

Lalong, however, defended his motion, saying his intention was to avert ethnic tension, not to question INEC’s independence. He explained that his reference to the Villa was merely incidental, insisting that the grievances had been widely reported and deserved Senate attention.

Sensing rising tension, the presiding officer, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), intervened. He ruled that the motion be referred to multiple committees: Judiciary, Electoral Matters, Public Petitions, Special Duties, and State and Local Governments, to ensure a broad, fact-based inquiry.

“The Committee on Judiciary will take the lead,” Jibrin directed, stressing that the first task would be to confirm whether the issue was already in court. “We must not appear to be interfering in a judicial process.”

The Senate thereafter resolved that the joint committees report back within four weeks, after establishing the legal and factual status of the delineation exercise.

Political observers and governance analysts have meanwhile thrown their weight behind INEC, arguing that the Commission acted strictly within its constitutional mandate. They maintained that delineation of constituencies and wards is a technical and administrative responsibility, insulated from ethnic or political considerations.

According to the analysts, attempts by lawmakers or interest groups to reopen a concluded delineation exercise could undermine institutional independence and set a dangerous precedent. They urged the National Assembly to support INEC in strengthening electoral infrastructure rather than politicising its lawful processes.