Delta Wards Delineation: Ijaws, Urhobos Issue Strong Warning Against Falsifying INEC Reports

By Ezekiel Kagbala 

Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri North, Warri South West and Warri South Local Government Areas of Delta State have warned against attempts from some quarters to falsify the report of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its field work on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the areas, which was carried out in adherence to an order of the Supreme Court on the issue. 

The Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities raised an alarm of threats by some unnamed people to peace and security in the Warri Federal Constituency and urged  the Federal Government to wade in without further delay, before it snowballed into unnecessary bloodbath.

This was contained in a statement jointly issued by the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of Warri Federal Constituency and signed by Hon. Denbo-denbofa Oweikpodor, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Hon. (Chief) Arthur Akpodubakaye, Joel Bisina, PhD and Comrade Emmanuel Igetei (for the Urhobos) and Chief John Eranvor, Chief Westham Adehor, Olorogun Victor Okumagba and Hon. Mark Ikpuri (for the Ijaws) respectively, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday.

"We warn against any attempt to change the Ijaw and Urhobo majority status in Warri North, Warri South West and Warri South Local Government Areas, respectively as revealed by the INEC report of its field work on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units", the statement read in part. 

While commending the INEC "for the steps taken so far towards complying with the Supreme Court order on fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State", the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri noted that "the report of the fieldwork by INEC confirms the obvious fact on ground, which is that, the Ijaws constitute the majority population in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, while the Urhobos constitute the majority population in Warri South Local Government Area". 

"We commend INEC for standing by the truth and justice", the two ethnic nationalities stated just as they called on INEC to "complete the process of the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency and release its final decision without further delay".
The statement read further, "It is the position of the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri that, there should not be any electoral activity including registration of voters in the Warri Federal Constituency without completion of the fresh delineation as ordered by the Supreme Court.

"Our position is predicated on the ground that, without completion of the fresh delineation exercise, there are no existing electoral wards and polling units upon which any electoral activity can be predicated upon, including registration of voters.

"The Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri note the agitation of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality against the report of the field work on the basis that, the register of voters which existed before the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation ought to be used as a basis to carry out the fresh delineation. 
"We equivocally oppose the agitation for the use of non-existent register of voters as basis to carry out the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units. 

The agitation is against the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act, 2022, the INEC Guidelines dated the 21st day of March, 2024 and the essence of the fieldwork on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units. The primary consideration for the delineation of electoral wards and polling units is the population quota/number of inhabitants and other physical consideration of the areas concerned. 

"Furthermore, it is our position that, based on the Supreme Court order on fresh delineation of wards and polling units, there is no longer any existing register of voters in the Warri Federal Constituency upon which any activity can be predicated upon. We therefore urge INEC to stick to the law and its Guidelines and not to succumb to the Itsekiri blackmail and misleading agitations to rely on register of voters. 

The field work carried out by INEC and other existing public records clearly revealed the majority population status of the Ijaws and Urhobos in Warri North, Warri South West and Warri South LGAs respectively. 

"Furthermore, the register of voters was not one of the items considered during the field work on the fresh delineation. Also, the Itsekiris have not complained that any of their communities or settlements was omitted in the report of the fieldwork presented by INEC. It therefore means that, the Itsekiri voter register based agitation against the INEC field work report is baseless and lacks any legal foundation". 

The Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri stated that they"were shocked by the report of the arrest of persons, including a serving British Army Officer for illegally bringing in arms to instigate unrest in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, so as to truncate the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units. 

According to the two ethnic nationalities, "a traditional ruler in the Warri Federal Constituency and his close aides were allegedly involved and the said persons have not denied the report several days thereafter". 

"We note that, the Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri were the primary target of those behind this dastardly act of stockpiling of arms. We therefore, commend the proactive efforts of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) and sister security forces that carried out the covet operations leading to the arrest of the perpetrators", they stated. 

The Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri called "for detailed investigation and prosecution of the those behind this act of terrorism, irrespective of the position and class of the persons involved". 
They continued, "We demand that, under no circumstances should this matter be swept under the carpet considering its grave implications on regional and national security. 

"The office of the National Security Adviser is called upon to be transparent in the investigation and prosecution of the culprits. We demand that the Nigerian people, especially the people and residents of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State deserve to have an official reaction from the government of Nigeria on the issue of illegal stockpiling of arms to instigate crisis in Warri.  

"The Ijaws and Urhobos call on the Nigerian government to consider the attempt to disrupt oil and gas operations as a result of compliance with the order of the Supreme Court as an act of terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

We state that, Nigeria is not a Banana Republic where the orders of the Supreme Court would be obeyed at the pleasure and on the conditions of an ethnic group. All persons and authorities including the Federal Government is bound by the orders of the Supreme Court on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units. Therefore, any attempt to frustrate the implementation of the judgment by attempting to attack national assets should be regarded as a threat to national security and the perpetrators brought to justice".