Warri Ward delineation: Ijaw, Urhobo leaders make fresh demands after Tinubu’s intervention

By Edeki Igafe

Ijaw and Urhobo leaders in Warri Federal Constituency have explained why they accepted the intervention of President Bola Tinubu over the controversies in delineation of new Registration Areas/Electoral Wards in Warri South-West Local Government Area

The representatives of the two ethnic groups said this in a joint news conference held in Warri on Sunday while warning against further delay in the implementation of the Supreme Court ordered electoral ward delineation report.

The news conference was convened by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Chief Victor Okumagba, Chief Denbo-Denbofa Oweikporodor, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Chief David Reje and Mr Samuel Ako following the June 11 stakeholders’ meeting convened in Abuja by President Bola Tinubu.

They said that any further delay in the implementation could undermine the fragile peace recently secured through the President’s intervention.

They also urged the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the trust reposed in them by the stakeholders.

“We reluctantly accepted painful compromises in the interest of peace and national stability,” the stakeholders said.

They called on INEC to immediately upload the delineation report to its portal, commence voter registration and transfer exercises in the newly created wards and polling units, ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

“We state in conclusion that any further delay in the implementation of the delineation report and attempt to alter the report will amount to betrayal of trust by the Federal Government and INEC.

“We reluctantly accepted the intervention of the President in respect of the alteration to the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards in Warri South-West Local Government Area as a mark of respect for the President,” they said.

The people recalled that INEC had, on May 20, released the report of the Supreme Court order for a fresh delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, creating 20 registration areas and electoral wards in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West LGAs.

They said that the report created additional state constituencies for Warri North and Warri South-West.

They further said that the report recommended the creation of a second federal constituency, covering the two LGAs, while Warri South remained under Warri Federal Constituency I.

The leaders said that the report was widely accepted by the Ijaw and Urhobo stakeholders, until its implementation was halted, thereby instigating protests across the constituency.

They said that the delay in the implementation prompted women, youths and community leaders to stage peaceful demonstrations and occupied strategic oil and gas facilities, including flow stations.

According to them, some protesters blocked parts of the Escravos River to draw national attention to their demands.

They said that the development prompted the President, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and top security officials to intervene through a high-level peace meeting attended by representatives of the two ethnic groups.

(NAN)