Tension is rising in the oil-rich Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, as leaders of the host communities have issued a stern warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the federal government, threatening a shutdown of oil operations if alleged manipulations in the ongoing ward delineation process are not immediately addressed.
At a press conference held earlier today, representatives of the Ogbe-Ijoh oil-producing communities in Warri South West Local Government Area accused three unnamed National Commissioners of INEC of hijacking the delineation process.
According to them, the officials are actively undermining the political relevance of the kingdom by skewing the allocation of electoral wards in favour of less populated ethnic blocs.
The communities—custodians of major oil installations such as Ajuju/Batan, Odidi I & II, Egwa II, Ikeremor manifold, and Ugbanabubou oil fields—described the delineation as a calculated injustice aimed at silencing their majority voice within the LGA.
In their address, the leaders referenced their earlier petition dated July 7, 2025, where they condemned the allocation of a mere two out of nineteen proposed Registration Areas to Ogbe-Ijoh.
They cited INEC’s own field reports and data from the National Population Commission (NPC), which allegedly confirm that the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom accounts for more than 40% of both the population and landmass of Warri South West.
“Despite verifiable data, these commissioners have continued to impose a lopsided delineation from Abuja, without setting foot on the ground or acknowledging the work done by field operatives,” said one of the community spokesmen.
The delegation further alleged that INEC officials who participated in field verification have come under threats of dismissal, transfers, or disciplinary actions, while “phantom” communities have been inserted into the register to inflate figures that justify the current imbalance.
“It is outrageous that while some minority groups are getting as many as nine and five wards, Ogbe-Ijoh is being limited to just two. This is not only a violation of the Electoral Act, but an ethnic injustice that could ignite avoidable unrest in a very sensitive region of Nigeria’s oil belt,” the leaders warned.
Citing a previous Supreme Court ruling that ordered a fresh delineation for the Warri Federal Constituency due to poor data and underrepresentation, the community leaders expressed disappointment that the new process is even more flawed than the one it was meant to replace.
“The integrity of INEC is on trial. Public confidence is at risk when high-ranking officials abuse their positions to serve narrow interests,” they added.
In their three-point demand, the Ogbe-Ijoh leaders are insisting on:
1. Immediate removal of the three alleged INEC National Commissioners from the Warri South West delineation exercise.
2. Strict adherence to NPC population data, INEC field reports, and settlement records as the only legitimate basis for allocating electoral wards.
3. Reassignment of the delineation process to a new, neutral INEC team with no previous ties to the current commissioners.
They also made a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to urgently intervene before the situation escalates.
“We are peace-loving people, but our patience has limits. If this injustice is not addressed, we will have no choice but to halt operations in our oil-producing facilities. The economy will feel our silence,” the statement concluded.
The press conference was signed by Deacon Clement Tekedor, Chief Samson Oyimi, Emmanuel Kusimi, and Hon. Johnbull Aniyanghan on behalf of the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Oil Producing Communities.
