Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo leaders in Delta State’s Warri Federal Constituency have declared that while they have accepted President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the controversial ward delineation exercise in the area, they will not tolerate any further alteration of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) report.
They warned that additional changes could trigger serious consequences.
The position was made known on Sunday during a joint press briefing in Warri, where the leaders said they had accepted what they described as an ‘injustice’ only out of respect for the President and in the interest of peace.
A statement read by Olorogun Victor Okumagba on behalf of the Ijaw and Urhobo people, followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, June 11 to address tensions arising from the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and constituencies in Warri Federal Constituency.
The statement was jointly signed by Chiefs Godspower Gbenekama, Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, John Eranvor, Arthur Akpodubakaye, David Reje, and Samuel Ako on behalf of the people.
‘We have reluctantly accepted the intervention of the President and Commander-in-Chief 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 and in the interest of peace,’ the leaders stated.
However, they cautioned against any additional review of the May 20, 2026 delineation report.
‘That we would not accept any further alteration to INEC’s delineation report presented to stakeholders on the 20th day of May, 2026 with respect to the Registration Areas/Electoral Wards composition, names of Registration Areas, Polling Units composition or any other form of alteration to the report.
‘INEC must not do any alteration to the May 20, 2026 report in any form whatsoever and under any circumstances,’ the statement read.
They added that any further delay in the implementation of the delineation report and attempt to alter the report ‘would amount to betrayal of trust by the Federal Government and INEC, and we should not be blamed for the likely consequences that would follow.’
Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who also addressed journalists, echoed the position, saying the Ijaw and Urhobo people had made painful compromises to sustain peace.
‘We have accepted this bitter pill because of President Tinubu’s intervention and because we respect the office he occupies. But there must be an end to concessions. We will not budge any further,’ he said.
Notable woman leader of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Veronica Tangbavei while expressing displeasure over the outcome of the deal struck woth the president, urged the Federal Government and INEC to immediately implement the report.
Other speakers at the briefing maintained that the communities had demonstrated commitment to peace by accepting the President’s directives despite reservations over the outcome.
The leaders argued that the final arrangement approved after political interventions reduced Ijaw representation in the delineation exercise while increasing that of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality beyond what they claimed was recommended in the original field report.
The INEC field report had recommended 14 wards for Ijaw communities and four for Itsekiri communities in Warri South-West LGA, but subsequent political interventions increased the Itsekiri allocation to nine wards.
Across the three Warri local government areas, Ijaw electoral wards were reduced from 27 proposed in the field report to 24, while Itsekiri wards increased from 21 to 27.
Despite these grievances, the leaders said they agreed to President Tinubu’s proposal for a revised ward structure in Warri South-West and participated in discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on power sharing and political rotation among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities.
The agreement followed the President’s intervention after days of escalating tension across Warri Federal Constituency.
The delineation dispute had sparked widespread protests by Ijaw and Urhobo women, youths and community groups across Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West local government areas.
Protesters staged peaceful demonstrations, occupied several oil and gas facilities and blocked sections of the Escravos River, demanding immediate implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation report released by INEC on May 20.
The protests prompted the emergency stakeholders’ meeting at the Presidential Villa, attended by President Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, security chiefs and representatives of INEC.
At the meeting, the President called on the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities to embrace compromise and coexistence, while directing that adjustments be made to the ward structure in Warri South-West and that an MoU be developed to guide political power sharing in the constituency.
The Ijaw and Urhobo leaders said they remain committed to peace, but insisted that the implementation of the delineation exercise must now proceed without further delay or modification.