Itsekiri Leaders of Thought have vehemently opposed the recent ward delineation exercise carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.
Addressing journalists after the presentation of the fieldwork exercise by INEC in Delta State, Mr. Amorighoye Sunny Mene, Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, stated that the entire Itsekiri community in Warri Federal Constituency would deploy all necessary means to resist the implementation of the delineation report.
Mene condemned the actions of INEC, describing them as unfavorable to the Itsekiri people and biased in favor of the Ijaw ethnic group in Delta South. He argued that the delineation was a deliberate attempt to expand Ijaw territories at the expense of the Itsekiri, with the potential to undermine Itsekiri political representation in future elections.
According to Mene, INEC had deliberately skewed the delineation in favor of the Ijaw people, a move which he claimed was a calculated effort to tip the balance in favor of the Ijaw people during future elections. He added that the Itsekiri people would resist the implementation of the report by all means at their disposal.
Mene provided a breakdown of the registered voters in the constituency, accusing INEC of carrying out a “hatchet job” that disproportionately favored the Ijaw people. He alleged that INEC had been compromised, asserting that the data did not support the changes made to the delineation.
“INEC did not provide us with an opportunity to speak at the unveiling event because they have inimical interests,” Mene said. “But the report they handed over to us, we entirely condemn and reject it in its entirety.”
In his analysis of the changes, Mene pointed out that in Warri North, where Itsekiri originally had 6 wards, the number was increased to 8, while Ijaw wards increased from 6 to 10. Mene argued that despite the Itsekiri having a far greater number of registered voters—75,912 with 134 polling units—compared to the Ijaw’s 38,480 registered voters and 58 polling units, INEC’s delineation did not reflect these disparities.
Mene also highlighted that in Warri South West, where the Ijaw initially had 4 wards and the Itsekiri had 6, the Ijaw wards were increased to 14, while Itsekiri wards were reduced to 5. Despite the Itsekiri community having a stronger voting base—94,000 registered voters with 174 polling units—compared to the Ijaw’s 95,000 voters with 157 polling units, the new delineation gave the Ijaw community disproportionate power.
In Warri South, Mene noted that while the Itsekiri had historically held 8 wards and the Urhobo had 2, the new delineation assigned the Itsekiri 8 wards, the Urhobo 10, and the Ijaw 2. He emphasized that the Ijaws have no homogeneous territory in Warri South, as they only vote in the area but do not have a solid territorial presence.
He also presented voting data showing that Itsekiri have 88,309 registered voters with 174 polling units, the Urhobos have 38,000 registered voters with 72 polling units, and the mid-demographic area has 51,517 registered voters with 105 polling units. He argued that the delineation should have reflected the balance of power between these groups but instead further weakened the Itsekiri position.
Mene expressed frustration over what he described as an expansionist agenda by the Ijaw people, accusing them of attempting to take over territories by force. He referenced the Warri crisis, where Ijaw forces had allegedly burned Itsekiri communities, and warned that INEC’s actions could reignite such tensions.
“We will not accept this under any circumstances,” Mene stated. “This act by INEC and the Ijaw people is like poking fingers into our eyes. We will resist them with everything we have. We will deploy every means possible to block this injustice.”
Mene concluded by stating that the data presented by INEC did not support the new delineation and called for fairness and justice. “INEC has exhibited bias, has been compromised, and this report will not be accepted by us,” he declared. The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought have vowed to continue their fight against the delineation, demanding a fairer representation for the Itsekiri people in the Warri Federal Constituency.
