Indigenous Warri Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities have accused the Itsekiri ethnic nationality of attempting to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's intervention in the ward delineation crisis in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State. The groups warned that any further delay in implementing the delineation report or attempts to alter it would amount to a betrayal of trust by the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and they should not be held responsible for the likely consequences.
Accusations and Demands
In a joint media briefing, the groups stated: "We note that the Itsekiris are still not satisfied despite the political interventions that have altered the INEC delineation report in their favour. We call on INEC to upload the report of the Registration Areas/Polling Units into its portal without further delay and commence a special registration and transfer of voters to the newly created Registration Areas and Polling Units in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State."
Presidential Intervention
The groups lauded President Tinubu's intervention, which included a meeting attended by the President, the Governor of Delta State, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Chief of Staff to the President, and a representative of INEC. At the meeting, President Tinubu, drawing inspiration from the national anthem, called on the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo of Warri to see themselves as brothers and sisters, despite differences in language and culture. He urged accommodation and compromise among all stakeholders to achieve sustainable peace in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Regarding the Supreme Court-ordered delineation report presented by INEC on May 20, 2026, Tinubu noted that his consultation with the Delta State Governor and other relevant agencies indicated that the problem lay in the composition of electoral wards in Warri South West Local Council Area. He proposed a re-adjustment of the INEC report for Warri South-West, allocating 11 wards to the Ijaw and nine to the Itsekiri. The groups emphasized that the INEC report for Warri North and Warri South Local Council Areas remained untouched.
Memorandum of Understanding on Power-Sharing
President Tinubu directed the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on power-sharing and rotation in the Warri Federal Constituency. The NSA, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was tasked with leading the process, with two representatives each from the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities. The representatives accepted the directive and pledged to work with the NSA to finalize the MoU.
On June 12, 2026, the representatives met with the NSA and the DSS Director at the NSA Conference Room in Abuja to draft and sign the MoU. The Ijaw were represented by Kingsley Otuaro and Dr. Eric K. Omare; the Itsekiri by A. S. Mene and Chief Robinson Ariyo; and the Urhobo by Olorogun Victor Okumagba and Chief Westham Adehor.
Proposals and Disagreements
During the meeting, the ethnic nationalities presented their proposals for power-sharing. The Ijaw and Urhobo proposed the rotation of House of Representatives seats for Warri Federal Constituency 1 and Warri Federal Constituency 11, the chairmanship of Warri North, Warri South West, and Warri South Local Council Areas, and the appointment of commissioners in all three local council areas. However, the Itsekiri opposed the inclusion of rotation for Warri Federal Constituency 1, the chairmanship of the three Warri local councils, and commissioner appointments, arguing that the Presidential directive applied only to the rotation of the proposed Warri Federal Constituency 11 and that the other issues fell under the constitutional authority of the Delta State Government.
