By Dera Akudo
A Warri-based legal practitioner and Niger Delta human rights advocate, Barrister Dennis Mene, has launched a blistering attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the ongoing ward delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency has been compromised by political manipulation and lacks transparency.
In a statement made available to Newsman, Mene described the exercise as a dangerous assault on the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process, alleging that what should ordinarily be a constitutional and administrative exercise has now become a deeply controversial process capable of undermining public trust and electoral credibility. He maintained that the foundation of fair representation must be built on demographic realities, administrative neutrality, and justice.
Mene alleged that the exercise in Warri South West Local Government Area had been manipulated through what he described as the arbitrary creation of wards and the exclusion of long established Itsekiri communities. According to him, several communities and settlements had either been reassigned or altered in ways that allegedly favor particular interests. He further claimed that certain communities recognized in the exercise were either improperly classified or questionable in status.
The legal practitioner also raised concerns over what he described as glaring disparities in ward allocations and voter figures in parts of Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas. He argued that the figures and allocations, as presently structured, fail to reflect fairness and proportional representation, warning that such outcomes could create serious concerns about equity, justice, and political balance within the affected communities.
Speaking further on developments in Warri South Local Government Area, Mene alleged that several communities had been recognized under disputed classifications while areas with major economic and strategic significance had allegedly been overlooked in the delineation process. He argued that such actions, if left unaddressed, could weaken the political voice and representation of affected communities.
He further alleged that certain aspects of the delineation exercise failed to align with existing judicial directives, including what he described as relevant Supreme Court positions affecting communities within the constituency. According to him, the alleged omissions have raised serious concerns over the legality and credibility of the exercise and heightened anxiety among stakeholders.
Describing the matter as both a legal and moral challenge, Mene called for the immediate publication of all technical data, methodologies, and administrative criteria used in the ward delineation process. He also demanded an immediate suspension of implementation pending an independent forensic audit into allegations of bias and possible external influence.
"The people of Warri cannot sit back and watch their political future determined through a process shrouded in controversy," Mene stated, calling for stronger intervention beyond preliminary actions and urging the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the matter. According to him, "the era of cash-and-carry administration must end because the sanctity of the ballot begins with the integrity of the ward."