Warri Delineation: Ijaw, Urhobo Leaders Accuse Itsekiri Group of Distorting Tinubu’s Directive, Defend Ijaw Presence

By Effie Bulouebi

Leaders of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri have strongly rejected claims made by some Itsekiri and Agbarha Urhobo leaders over the recent delineation of electoral wards in Warri Federal Constituency, accusing them of spreading misinformation and attempting to undermine the political rights of other ethnic groups in the area.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the leaders insisted that President Bola Tinubu never directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to alter the names of electoral wards in Warri South Local Government Area, contrary to claims contained in a June 19 joint statement issued by some Itsekiri and Agbarha Urhobo representatives.

The leaders maintained that the President’s intervention was limited to issues concerning Warri South-West Local Government Area and broader power-sharing arrangements among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities across the three Warri local government areas.

According to them, INEC has already concluded the Supreme Court-ordered delineation exercise and released its final report on June 16, 2026, in compliance with agreements reached by stakeholders.

While commending INEC for implementing the Supreme Court judgment, the leaders alleged that efforts by the Federal Government to broker a comprehensive power-sharing arrangement in Warri South LGA were frustrated by the Itsekiri delegation during a mediation meeting held at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja on June 12.

They stated that the Presidential directive on power-sharing covered all political positions within the Warri Federal Constituency and was not restricted to the proposed Warri Federal Constituency 11 as claimed by their opponents.

The leaders also expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of eight electoral wards to the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in Warri South LGA, arguing that the distribution did not reflect population realities. However, they said they accepted the final delineation report out of respect for President Tinubu and urged all parties to allow peace to prevail.

A major focus of the briefing was the claim by some Itsekiri and Agbarha Urhobo leaders that there are no indigenous Ijaw communities in Warri South Local Government Area.

The Ijaw and Urhobo leaders dismissed the assertion as false and historically inaccurate, insisting that the presence of Ijaw communities in Warri South has been repeatedly confirmed by government institutions, historical records and electoral documents.

They recalled that during stakeholder engagements with INEC in 2024, it was resolved that Ijaw communities form an integral part of Warri South LGA, leading to the deployment of INEC field officers to Ijaw settlements for the delineation exercise.

According to the leaders, communities such as Ewein, Bulou-Ama (GRA 2) and Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Urban were recognized and captured during the field exercise, resulting in the creation of corresponding electoral wards.

They further argued that the Ijaw people historically enjoyed political representation within the former Warri Urban District Council established under Western Region laws in 1955, where dedicated electoral wards existed for Ijaw communities.

The leaders alleged that subsequent local government reforms fragmented those wards into polling units, reducing the political influence of the Ijaw people and contributing to decades of marginalisation.

Citing historical records, state laws, census documents and reports of government agencies, they insisted that the existence of Ijaw communities in Warri South LGA is beyond dispute.

The leaders urged the Federal Government and INEC to disregard what they described as attempts to reopen issues already settled through the Supreme Court judgment and the final delineation report.

They also called on INEC to conduct a special voter registration exercise across the newly created wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency to enable eligible residents register and participate fully in the 2027 general elections.

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