Ijaw, Urhobo Leaders Back Tinubu Peace Deal, Demand Immediate Implementation of INEC Warri Delineation Report

By Terry Miller 

Leaders of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency have thrown their weight behind the recent peace accord brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the contentious ward delineation exercise, while demanding the immediate and complete implementation of the final report released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking at a joint press conference held on Sunday in Warri, representatives of both ethnic groups said they accepted the outcome of the presidential intervention out of respect for the office of the President and in the interest of sustaining peace, unity and development across the Warri Federal Constituency.

Reading a joint statement on behalf of the groups, Olorogun Victor Okumagba commended INEC for complying with the Supreme Court judgment and carrying out the ward delineation exercise without fear or favour.

He clarified that the newly restored State Constituencies for Warri South-West and Warri North would take effect in the 2027 general elections, while the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II could not be implemented in 2027 because it must first pass through legislative processes at the National Assembly before becoming law.

Okumagba also outlined the final ward structure approved by INEC, stating that in Warri South Local Government Area, the Urhobo ethnic nationality has nine wards, the Itsekiri eight wards, while the Ijaw nationality has three wards.

He cautioned members of the public against relying on conflicting figures circulating on social media, describing such reports as false and misleading.

According to him, the power-sharing arrangement among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities was reached following the intervention of President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Department of State Services and other critical stakeholders.

The Ijaw and Urhobo leaders, however, expressed reservations over aspects of the presidential intervention in Warri South-West Local Government Area, arguing that the arrangement departed from INEC's field findings.

They claimed that while INEC's field report allocated four electoral wards to the Itsekiri nationality in Warri South-West, the presidential intervention increased the number to nine wards, while the Ijaw communities of Ogbe-Ijoh, Gbaramatu, Isaba and Diebiri Kingdoms were allocated 11 wards.

The groups said they were dissatisfied with the political adjustment but accepted it in the interest of peace and stability.

In their resolutions, the Ijaw and Urhobo leaders declared that they had "reluctantly accepted" the President's intervention as a mark of respect for his office and to preserve peace in the region.

They insisted that no further alteration should be made to the delineation report presented by INEC to stakeholders on May 20, 2026, including ward composition, registration area names, polling unit structures or any other component of the report.

The groups further urged INEC to immediately upload the final delineation report on its portal and commence special voter registration and transfer exercises in the newly created registration areas and polling units across Warri Federal Constituency.

They also alleged that despite the concessions made through the presidential intervention, the Itsekiri ethnic nationality remained dissatisfied with the outcome.

Warning against further delays, the Ijaw and Urhobo leaders stated that any attempt to alter the report or delay its implementation would amount to a breach of trust by both the Federal Government and INEC, with potentially serious consequences for peace and stability in the area.

The statement was jointly endorsed by prominent Ijaw and Urhobo leaders, including Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Olorogun Victor Okumagba, Chief Denbo-Denbofa Oweikporodor, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Chief David Reje, Hon. Samuel Ako and Chief Okumagba Sylvester.