As controversies continue to trail the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) delineation of electoral wards in Warri federal constituency, the Urhobo Nation has declared satisfaction with the process, calling on all aggrieved ethnic nationalities to allow peace to prevail while INEC finalizes its adjustments.
Speaking in an interview monitored on Channels Television, Olorogun Victor Okumagba, Secretary of the Warri-Urhobo National Congress, stated that while the process may not be perfect, the Urhobo people believe the delineation reflects a fairer representation of the current realities in Warri.
“The delineation exercise didn’t start today. It began as far back as July 2004. It was a process informed by the need to correct the injustices of the past, especially those pointed out by the Supreme Court,” Okumagba said.
The controversy stems from INEC’s latest ward delineation in Warri, which shows Ijaw now has 27 wards, Itsekiri 21, and Urhobo 9. This shift has sparked outrage among some members of the Itsekiri ethnic group, who argue the new boundaries do not reflect historical ownership and demographic fairness.
However, Okumagba pushed back, stating that protests and claims of historical land ownership should not override constitutional and legal processes.
“The Constitution says you cannot exceed 20 wards in a local government area. INEC has created 20 wards for Warri, and though we, the Urhobo people, are not fully satisfied, we accept it in good faith while we wait for INEC to address our concerns and observations,” he explained.
On the Itsekiri claims of land ownership, Okumagba dismissed the narrative as a distraction. He referenced a landmark legal case; Idudu vs. Okumagba (Suit No. W/48/68) which he said settled the long-standing dispute over Warri land ownership in favour of the Urhobo.
“The court ruled that the Olu of Warri has no overlordship over all lands in Warri division. His authority is limited to lands belonging to the Itsekiri people. Warri town is not synonymous with the Itsekiri Kingdom, and historical evidence supports that,” he added.
He further emphasized that the Itsekiri people have no distinct communities in Warri township and that the majority of the land in Warri South which makes up about 85% of Warri town is not traditionally Itsekiri land.
On the agitation that led to the Supreme Court’s intervention, Okumagba clarified that the old ward arrangement, especially the one created in 1996, was based on fictitious data and unjustly favoured the minority groups at the time.
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“Back then, INEC created wards by application, not by proper field verification. That’s what led to the Supreme Court judgment ordering a redelineation. The previous arrangement gave fewer wards to majority populations and more to minority areas,” he said.
When asked about the way forward, the Warri-Urhobo leader called for calm and legal engagement rather than ethnic conflict.
“INEC has done its part. Let all stakeholders channel their concerns properly. We are not opposed to corrections. Let INEC implement the final observations and we can all move forward,” he concluded.
The Warri federal constituency is home to three dominant ethnic groups; the Urhobo, Ijaw, and Itsekiri with decades of tension over land, political power, and representation. While the recent INEC delineation has been lauded by some, particularly the Ijaw and Urhobo, the Itsekiri have expressed deep dissatisfaction, threatening further agitation.
Observers hope that INEC’s final report and possible adjustments will help douse tensions and lead to a more equitable and peaceful political environment in the oil-rich Warri region.
