By Francis Sadhere, Warri
There was widespread jubilation across Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday following the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) report on the Supreme Court-ordered delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The report was unveiled during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held in Asaba, attended by representatives of the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities.
INEC officials at the meeting included the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Etekamba Unoren, and a Supervising National Electoral Commissioner, who formally presented the outcome of the delineation exercise.
As part of the exercise, INEC also announced the creation of additional constituencies for the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, although the proposed constituencies are subject to ratification by the National Assembly through constitutional amendment.
The development is being viewed by many stakeholders as a major breakthrough in the long-standing agitation surrounding political representation and ward allocation in the Warri Federal Constituency.
A prominent leader from Gbaramatu Kingdom, who spoke on the development, explained that while the new federal constituencies had been proposed by INEC, they would only become operational after constitutional backing by the National Assembly.
“But it has been created too. It will go to the National Assembly for constitutional amendment,” the source stated.
According to the report presented at the meeting, Warri North was divided into two constituencies, with Warri North I, predominantly Itsekiri, allocated 10 wards, while Warri North II, predominantly Ijaw, also received 10 wards.
In Warri South-West, the delineation created two constituencies, with Warri South-West II, largely Itsekiri, allocated seven wards, while Warri South-West I, predominantly Ijaw, received 13 wards.
The report further indicated that Warri South now has a total of 20 wards, distributed among the three major ethnic groups in the area. The Urhobo were allocated nine wards, the Itsekiri eight wards, while the Ijaw received three wards.
The release of the report appears to have eased tensions that had built up over delays in the delineation process, with many residents expressing optimism that the outcome could foster improved political representation and peaceful coexistence among the ethnic nationalities in the area.
There was widespread jubilation across Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday following the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) report on the Supreme Court-ordered delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The report was unveiled during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held in Asaba, attended by representatives of the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities.
INEC officials at the meeting included the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Etekamba Unoren, and a Supervising National Electoral Commissioner, who formally presented the outcome of the delineation exercise.
As part of the exercise, INEC also announced the creation of additional constituencies for the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, although the proposed constituencies are subject to ratification by the National Assembly through constitutional amendment.
The development is being viewed by many stakeholders as a major breakthrough in the long-standing agitation surrounding political representation and ward allocation in the Warri Federal Constituency.
A prominent leader from Gbaramatu Kingdom, who spoke on the development, explained that while the new federal constituencies had been proposed by INEC, they would only become operational after constitutional backing by the National Assembly.
“But it has been created too. It will go to the National Assembly for constitutional amendment,” the source stated.
According to the report presented at the meeting, Warri North was divided into two constituencies, with Warri North I, predominantly Itsekiri, allocated 10 wards, while Warri North II, predominantly Ijaw, also received 10 wards.
In Warri South-West, the delineation created two constituencies, with Warri South-West II, largely Itsekiri, allocated seven wards, while Warri South-West I, predominantly Ijaw, received 13 wards.
The report further indicated that Warri South now has a total of 20 wards, distributed among the three major ethnic groups in the area. The Urhobo were allocated nine wards, the Itsekiri eight wards, while the Ijaw received three wards.
The release of the report appears to have eased tensions that had built up over delays in the delineation process, with many residents expressing optimism that the outcome could foster improved political representation and peaceful coexistence among the ethnic nationalities in the area.
