Warri Ward Delineation: Ijaw, Urhobo accept Tinubu's peace deal

The indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo leaders of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State have accepted President Bola Tinubu intervention in the contentious ward delineation dispute in Warri. 

Addressing journalists in Warri on Sunday, the Ijaw and Urhobo leaders said they reluctantly accepted adjustments made to the ward structure in Warri South-West Local Government Area. 

Their position was captured in jointly signed statement by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Olorogun Victor Okumagba, Chief Denbo-Denbofa Oweikporodor, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Chief David Reje and Hon. Samuel Ako on behalf of the Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri Federal Constituency.

The peace deal will pave the way for the implementation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s fresh delineation report ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They described their decision as a sacrifice made in the interest of peace and respect for the office of the President.

The leaders, however, warned against any further alteration of the delineation report released by INEC on May 20, 2026, insisting that the INEC should immediately upload the new electoral structure and commence voter registration and transfer processes in the affected areas.

They disclosed that the President, during a stakeholders' meeting held at the Presidential Villa on June 11, proposed a review of the ward composition in Warri South-West to give the Ijaw ethnic nationality 11 wards and the Itsekiri ethnic nationality nine wards.

According to the leaders, "the President also directed the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on power sharing and political rotation among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities within the Warri Federal Constituency.

"The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was subsequently mandated to coordinate the drafting of the agreement with representatives of the three ethnic groups."

The Ijaw and Urhobo leaders said representatives of the ethnic nationalities met with the NSA in Abuja on June 12 to work on the proposed MoU.

They explained that while the Ijaw and Urhobo delegations proposed the rotation of House of Representatives seats, local government chairmanship positions and commissioner appointments across the three Warri councils, the Itsekiri delegation opposed aspects of the proposal.

Despite the disagreement, they said they agreed to proceed with the areas of consensus relating to the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II in order not to delay the implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation process.

The leaders maintained that they were not satisfied with the reduction in the number of wards allocated to Ijaw communities but accepted the arrangement to sustain peace and allow the electoral process to move forward.

They argued that previous field reports by INEC had allocated more wards to Ijaw communities in both Warri South-West and Warri North local government areas before political interventions altered the figures.

The leaders also stressed that the delineation structure approved for Warri North and Warri South local government areas remained unchanged during the Presidential meeting.

They called on INEC to immediately implement the delineation report, activate the newly created registration areas and polling units, and commence voter registration exercises across the constituency.

The stakeholders warned that any further delay or attempt to alter the May 20 delineation report could undermine confidence in the process and threaten the fragile peace achieved through the intervention of President Tinubu and other stakeholders.