Tensions Rise in Warri Boundary Dispute as Itsekiri and Ijaw/Urhobo Communities Voice Diverging Opinions on INEC Findings

On May 20, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, convened a meeting with stakeholders from Warri Federal Constituency in Asaba, with the aim of resolving the longstanding conflict and anxiety surrounding ward delineation.

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The meeting's timing and brief notice to the invited Warri Ijaws, Itsekiris, and Urhobos appeared to be deliberate, as Asaba was unusually quiet that day, with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other officeholders absent in their respective communities, focused on the APC primaries for the 2027 State Assembly elections.

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A representative of one of the ethnic groups explained that they were all participating in the APC primaries in their villages, but the Asaba gathering was too sensitive to miss, prompting them to send representatives, while an INEC official noted that despite their busy schedule, the timing was ideal for the meeting to ease tension and avoid commotion.

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INEC had previously released a preliminary report, which was accepted by the Ijaws and Urhobos, but rejected by the Itsekiris, and all parties had been eagerly awaiting the final report, which was unveiled by the INEC Delta Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, and a Supervising National Commissioner.

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The new outcomes of the report included the creation of an additional state constituency each for Warri South West and Warri North LGAs, resulting in all three Warri LGAs having two constituencies each, as well as a proposal to group Warri South West and Warri North into one Federal Constituency, with Warri South LGA becoming a standalone Federal Constituency, subject to constitutional approval.

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The ward breakdown revealed that Warri North I, Itsekiri, has 10 Wards, Warri North II, Ijaw, has 10 Wards, Warri South-West II, Itsekiri, has 7 Wards, Warri South-West II, Ijaws, has 13 Wards, and Urban Warri South has 20 Wards, with the Urhobos having 9, Itsekiris 8, and Ijaws 3.

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Sir A.S Mene, Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thoughts, rejected the new proposals, stating that they welcome the creation of two additional state constituencies and one federal constituency, but the composition is based on earlier rejected fraudulent data released by INEC on April 4, 2025, in Asaba.

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Mene emphasized that the exercise does not comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC's own guidelines for delineation of wards and polling units, and that the Supreme Court's judgment in Suit No. SC/143/2016 did not declare existing wards, polling units, or voter register as fake or fictitious.

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He expressed concern that INEC has exceeded its constitutional mandate by engaging in activities outside its electoral responsibilities, including identification and recognition of communities, demographic interpretations, and territorial classifications, and that INEC's role is strictly administrative and electoral, not ethnographic or territorial.

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Mene rejected any attempt to rely on unofficial population estimates, aerial mapping interpretations, or artificially created community structures as the basis for electoral delineation, stating that any process that departs from constitutionally recognized data and lawful electoral procedures undermines the integrity and credibility of the democratic process.

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He also corrected the false narrative that Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups in Warri Federal Constituency have been denied political representation, citing the political history of the constituency, which demonstrates that both ethnic groups have occupied significant political offices across Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North LGAs.

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Findings presented by independent geographic information and survey experts revealed major inconsistencies in the proposed polling unit coordinates released by INEC, with several polling units allegedly located outside their designated LGAs, while others reportedly fall within rivers, swamps, forests, Edo State, Ondo State, and other non-habitable locations.

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These findings raised serious questions about the credibility, legality, and technical integrity of the exercise, prompting Mene to call on the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate the conduct of the delineation exercise and hold accountable any officials found to have compromised the integrity of the process.

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Eric Omare, a lawyer on the case, responded that the outcome of the latest Asaba meeting was not a proposal, but INEC's final delineation report, to be implemented with immediate effect, emphasizing that anyone referring to it as a proposal was not present at the meeting.

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At Effurun, a joint gathering of Ijaws and Urhobos welcomed the report, warning against any alteration, with Chief Victor Okumagba reading the joint position, which was also signed by Alaowei Denbo-Denbofa Owerkpodor, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, and Chief John Edgar Eranvor.

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Okumagba stated that INEC's action would end decades of tension in Warri Federal Constituency, urging political parties to hold primaries for the new seats ahead of 2027, and emphasizing that the problem of the Warri Federal Constituency has been the lack of political space for people from different ethnic nationalities to participate in the political process.

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He added that the new structure gives all groups equal opportunity, advising that, in the interest of peace, there should be no alteration from any quarter, otherwise, it will not be too palatable for the system and the government of Nigeria.

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Omare clarified that, unlike the state constituencies, INEC needs constitutional ratification before it can add and activate the new Federal Constituency, as there are 360 Federal Constituencies in Nigeria, and INEC has proposed the creation of an additional one, which requires constitutional amendment.

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The implementation of the new arrangement will shift political power among Ijaws, Itsekiris, and Urhobos in Warri, leaving the question of whether there will be an amicable resolution.