Leaders of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom in Warri, have rejected the outcome of the ward delineation exercise released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Warri Federal Constituency, alleging they were shortchanged by the electoral commission in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Former member of the Delta State House of Assembly and Special Adviser on Environment to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Matthew Opuoru, onbehalf of Okere-Urhobo leaders while addressing newsmen in Warri, expressed dissatisfaction with the controversial recommendation by INEC.
“We have the population, the voters’ strength as far as Warri is concerned.
“I strongly believe that Okere-Urhobo Kingdom has the most populated area in Warri South, and our boundaries are beyond imagination. We should have at least four wards,” he said.
Opuoru, the deputy leader of Warri Urhobos in PDP, asserted that even though the Okere-Urhobos have no problem with the Ijaws, Itsekiris and Agbarha-Warri, INEC must cross-check their data by ensuring that the wards reflect the population of each group.
“In Okumagba II, we have 37 units that can be split into two wards, in Okumagba I, we have 32 units, and the population in Okere-Urhobo Kingdom is humongous. We are asking for equity,” he added.
Also, a former councilor in Warri South Local Government Area, Jude Igerebou, said the Okere-Urhobos reject the outcome of the ward delineation carried out by INEC in the local government.
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“We, the people of Okere-Urhobo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, express our utmost disappointment and dissatisfaction over the ongoing ward delineation in Warri South, and we reject it in its entirety, because it was not properly done.
“Our places were not properly captured and there were too many abnormalities in the proposal.
“We are calling on the authorities to handle the issues properly, because there is a saying that he who wants equity, must go with clean hands,” Igerebou said.
Another Okere-Urhobo leader, Chief Venture Evwherhamre, averred that they have been shortchanged by INEC as they have the population.
“We proposed six wards and now they are giving us one. It is not acceptable by us in Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, we reject the proposal.
“We are asking the authorities to go back and look into our proposal and give us what we deserve. They should capture the area properly,” he declared.
