There has been jubilation within the Ijaw and Urhobos in Warri, Delta State, following the release of the final report on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The non release of the report had been a subject of friction between the Ijaw/Urhobo leaders who had also threatened to boycott the 2027 general election.
Key Highlights:
- Jubilation in Warri after the Independent National Electoral Commission released the final ward and polling unit delineation report for the Warri Federal Constituency.
- Ijaw and Urhobo stakeholders in Warri ended earlier threats to boycott the 2027 elections.
- The groups commended INEC for implementing a Supreme Court ruling and creating new constituencies and wards.
- They also welcomed plans for additional state House of Assembly constituencies in Warri North and Warri South-West.
- Leaders urged peace, cooperation, and warned against any alteration of the released report ahead of the 2027 elections.
But at a press conference in Warri, the ethnic groups, led by their representatives, gave kudos to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for heeding to their demands by releasing the report which contains new constituencies and electoral wards.
The press statement issued at the briefing was signed by Paul Bebenimibo, Chief John Eronvor, Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor and Chief Victor Okumagba.
The stakeholders also cautioned the federal government and all agencies of the government in possession of copies of the final report against any alterations in the interest of peace.
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The ethnic groups said they have collectively resolved to fully cooperate and participate in the 2027 general elections in the Warri Federal Constituency, following the release of the INEC report.
“The Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri applaud INEC for acting in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court by releasing the final report of the delineation for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
“We also thank INEC for creating additional state House of Assembly constituencies for Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas of Delta State.
“We also commend INEC for the directive for political parties’ primaries to be conducted immediately for the nomination of candidates to represent the different political parties in these new constituencies in the 2027 general elections.
“Furthermore, we highly commend INEC for recommending the creation of additional Warri Federal Constituency 11 for Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas.
“We advise in the interest of peace that there should be no alteration on the final copies of the final reports from any quota or otherwise it will not be too palatable for the system,” they said.
The ethnic groups observed that the action of the electoral umpire would substantially address the political instability and restore peace to the Warri Federal Constituency.
They attributed the problem of the Warri Federal Constituency over the years to lack of political space for people from the diverse ethnic groups to participate in the political process.
The people noted that the bold steps taken by INEC to create additional polling units, electoral wards, state constituencies and recommend for the creation of a federal constituency in the implementation of the Supreme Court decision in SC/413/2016 had addressed these age-long problems.
According to them, the audacious step has given all the ethnic nationalities the opportunity to participate in the political process.
“One of the most significant point in the newly created state constituencies is the recognition of the the ethnic diversity of the people in Warri Federal Constituency.
“We also commend the security agencies for their collective efforts in maintaining law and order in the Warri Federal Constituency,” they said.
The ethnic groups, however, called on their people to be law- abiding in all the processes leading to the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
