The leadership of Agbarha Warri Kingdom has publicly distanced itself from the position recently expressed by the Ijaws of Warri Federal Constituency and leaders of Okere Urhobo Kingdom on the contentious ward delineation exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The kingdom insists that it remains opposed to the electoral body’s proposed ward structure for Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Clarification of Position
Addressing journalists in Asaba on Wednesday, the High Chief of Agbarha Warri Kingdom, High Chief Sylvester Ejabor, said the kingdom was compelled to clarify its position following a press conference aired live on Arise Television. During that broadcast, Ijaw leaders and representatives of Okere Urhobo Kingdom expressed support for aspects of the ward delineation exercise. Ejabor stated that the caption and presentation of the press conference created the misleading impression that the views expressed represented a joint position of all Urhobo communities in Warri Federal Constituency, a claim he firmly rejected on behalf of Agbarha Warri Kingdom.
Steadfast Opposition
According to Ejabor, Agbarha Warri Kingdom remains steadfast in its earlier rejection of the ward proposal recently released by INEC. The kingdom particularly objects to what it described as the naming of wards within Agbarha Warri territory with Ijaw names. “The attention of the authorities of Agbarha Warri Kingdom has been drawn to a press conference broadcast live on Arise Television by the Ijaws of Warri Federal Constituency and leaders of Okere Urhobo Kingdom on the issue of INEC’s ward delineation exercise. However, Agbarha Warri Kingdom restates its earlier fierce objections to the naming of wards within Agbarha Warri land with Ijaw names,” Ejabor stated.
He argued that the description of the event as a joint position of Ijaws and Urhobos in Warri Federal Constituency was inaccurate and failed to reflect the official stance of Agbarha Warri Kingdom, which he described as a major bloc within the Urhobo ethnic nationality in Warri.
Respect for Okere Urhobo, but Not Mandate for All
While acknowledging the right of the President-General of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Chief Sylvester Femi Okumagba, to express the views of his kingdom, Ejabor stressed that such views should not be interpreted as representing all Urhobo communities in the area. “Chief Okumagba has every right to speak for Okere Urhobo Kingdom and express satisfaction with the recently released ward proposal. However, at no time was he mandated to speak on behalf of the entire Warri Urhobo people, of which Agbarha Warri Kingdom is a major component,” he said.
The kingdom maintained that the press conference should have been properly identified as the position of the Ijaws of Warri Federal Constituency and Okere Urhobo Kingdom, rather than a collective Urhobo endorsement of the INEC proposal.
Specific Objections and Call for Suspension
Reiterating its objections, Agbarha Warri Kingdom condemned what it described as the “balkanisation” of Agbarha wards into two state constituencies in Warri South and rejected the allocation of polling units located within Agbarha Warri land to Ogedegbe Ward. The kingdom warned that implementing the current ward proposal without addressing the identified concerns could deepen tensions in the already sensitive Warri political landscape.
Ejabor therefore called on INEC to suspend implementation of the proposed ward structure for Warri South pending a review of the disputed areas and correction of what the kingdom termed anomalies in the delineation exercise. He further urged the electoral commission to adhere strictly to its operational guidelines and the findings of its field officers who participated in the delineation process. “The leadership of Agbarha Warri Kingdom cautions INEC to abide by its own guidelines and the delineation fieldwork carried out by its staff before pushing Warri into another unnecessary unrest and crisis,” he said.
