Indigenous Ijaws of Warri South Backs INEC Delineation Report, Accuses Tinubu’s Wife Of Allegedly Frustrating Exercise

Ogheneruona Tejiri, Warri

Indigenous Ijaws of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have endorsed the final report of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation exercise carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) just as they have accused Senator Oluremi Tinubu of allegedly frustrating the implementation.

Addressing journalists in Warri weekend, the Ijaws of Warri South in a statement jointly signed by Hon. Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, identified as the Ijaw Focal Person, alongside Comrade Moses Fiyebor and read by the former described the Supreme Court–ordered exercise as fair, thorough and reflective of the realities on ground.

The Ijaw leaders also accused some Itsekiri leaders and prominent political figures, including Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and a former Senator, Senator Daisy Danjuma of allegedly attempting to frustrate the implementation of the delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.

The position of the Ijaw people was contained in a press briefing issued by the Ijaws of Warri South Local Government Area and signed by Hon. Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, identified as the Ijaw Focal Person, alongside Comrade Moses Fiyebor.

The briefing held at Warri Main Market, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday followed the release of INEC’s final report on the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency on May 20, 2026, pursuant to the Supreme Court judgment in Suit No. SC/413/2016: Hon. George U. Timinimi & Ors v. INEC.

They expressed satisfaction with the final report released by INEC in Asaba, Delta State, stressing that the Commission did a thorough job during the exercise.

According to the Indigenous Ijaws of Warri South Local Government Area, “we the Ijaw people of Warri South Local Government Area welcome the final report of the fresh delineation exercise which was released by INEC to stakeholders in Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

“The INEC final report reflects the reality on ground and we commend the Commission for doing a very thorough job. We also accept the delineation of the Ijaw Electoral Wards and registration areas into Warri South Constituency II of the Delta State House of Assembly.”

They however, said it was necessary to correct what it described as “misconceptions” allegedly being promoted by the Itsekiri ethnic nationality concerning the existence and status of Ijaw communities in Warri South Local Government Area.

According to the Indigenous Ijaws of Warri South Local Government Areas, some Itsekiri groups had allegedly been spreading narratives suggesting that the Ijaw people of Ogbe-Ijoh were not part of the Local Government, adding, “we are speaking to you now from our own territory in Warri South Local Government Area. This is our own indigenous land in Warri main town.”

They said that the issue had earlier been raised during the Stakeholders’ meetings organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and had already been addressed by the electoral Commission.

They stated that during meetings involving INEC officials and representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities at the Government House Annex in Warri on July 8, 2024, it was resolved that the Ijaw people were an integral part of Warri South LGA based on available intelligence reports, physical communities on ground and existing polling units.

They noted that INEC subsequently assigned field officers specifically to Ijaw communities during the delineation exercise carried out between July 10 and July 19, 2024, adding, “the officers covered Ijaw settlements that now constitute the newly created Ewein Ward 07, Bulou-Ama Ward 02, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Urban Ward 12 and parts of GRA Ward 08.”

They argued that the delineation of electoral wards in their area was not a new development but a restoration of structures that had existed historically before the 1976 local government reforms.

They referenced the 1955 Western Region Laws of Nigeria No. 177 establishing the then Warri Urban District Council, which, according to them recognised four autonomous Ijaw wards identified as Alders Town B3, Ogbe-Ijoh Ward C1, Ogbe-Ijoh Ward C2 and Government Area F1.

They accused the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Senator Daisy Danjuma of allegedly attempting to pressure INEC into withdrawing the newly created wards allocated to the Ijaw people in Warri South.

According to them, “the First Lady has been at the forefront of the consistent attempts to frustrate the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation process and deny the Ijaws in general and the Ijaws of Warri South LGA the opportunity to have electoral wards and registration areas.”

They warned that attempts to reverse the delineation exercise could create tension and destabilise the peace in Warri, recalling the Warri crisis of 1997 to 2003, which followed the relocation of the headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area from Ogbe-Ijoh to Ogidigben.

They added, “the actions of the First Lady and Senator Danjuma may lead to same result if caution is not applied. We are urging Senator Oluremi Tinubu to use her office to promote development and peaceful coexistence among ethnic groups in Warri rather than the pursuit of an Itsekiri agenda.

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