Warri South Ward Dispute: Urhobo, Itsekiri Protest As Political Settlement Collapses

Efforts to resolve the dispute over alleged irregularities in the delineation of electoral wards in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State through political negotiations have collapsed, following a protest by more than 500 Urhobo and Itsekiri residents at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Asaba on Wednesday.

The protesters accused INEC of introducing fictitious names, unfamiliar ward identities and questionable polling units into the electoral structure of the local government area, alleging that the exercise could undermine the political representation of their respective communities.

They demanded a review of the delineation exercise, insisting that the electoral structure should reflect the genuine ancestral settlements and interests of the different ethnic groups in Warri South.

Addressing the protesters, an Itsekiri leader, Samuel Meyiwa, said the communities had previously agreed to pursue a political solution to the disagreement following meetings involving stakeholders at the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

He, however, expressed disappointment that the latest list released by INEC allegedly failed to reflect the understanding reached at the meetings.

According to Meyiwa, stakeholders had agreed that fictitious names and addresses allegedly introduced into the electoral records of Warri South would be removed.

He questioned why the commission’s subsequent list contained entries that the communities considered unfamiliar and lacking verifiable ancestral connections to the affected areas.

“We were all at the meeting, and the understanding was that the fictitious names and addresses in Warri South should be removed. But INEC has released another list. So, what has happened to the agreement we reached?” he asked.

Meyiwa stressed that the protest was not intended to generate hostility between the Itsekiri and other ethnic groups but to demand fairness and compliance with the understanding reached by stakeholders.

Similarly, the Urhobo representative, Eforele Marcus, accused the electoral commission of introducing unfamiliar ward names and altering the existing electoral structure in ways he said could affect the political representation of Urhobo communities.

Marcus argued that the different ethnic groups in Warri South had distinct ancestral settlements, which he said should be properly reflected in the delineation of electoral wards.

“They brought names that are not in existence in our communities. Some of the ward names are strange to the people of Warri South. I have never heard of them before,” he said.

He also questioned the creation of additional wards and polling units, alleging that the exercise had altered existing arrangements among communities in the local government area.

Marcus said the protesters wanted INEC to correct what they considered errors in the delineation process and restore a fair electoral structure.

“We are here for INEC to correct the wrongs it has done,” he said.

Responding to the protesters, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta State, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, acknowledged their right to peaceful protest but urged them to avoid violence.

He asked the protesters to submit their grievances in writing through their leaders, explaining that a comprehensive position paper would enable his office to properly document their complaints and forward them to INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja.

Umoren said the document should explain the circumstances surrounding the dispute, previous engagements with the commission, areas where the protesters believed INEC had failed to act and the specific remedies they were demanding.

“I have seen all the placards you are carrying. There are so many of them, and I cannot recall all the messages at the same time. I think it would be better for you to present your position to me in writing.

“Let us have a position paper explaining the situation, what has been done, what you think has not been done and your expectations. You can submit it through your leaders,” he said.

The REC assured the protesters that his office was open to receiving their complaints and that the documents would be forwarded to the commission’s national headquarters for consideration and necessary action.

While acknowledging their right to express their grievances, Umoren warned against resorting to violence, stressing that the dispute should be pursued through peaceful and lawful means.

“I acknowledge your right to peaceful protest. The important thing is that we must do everything peacefully and avoid violence. At the end of the day, you don’t throw stones into the market when you don’t know who is inside. Violence is not what we need. Let us pursue our demands peacefully,” he said.

Also addressing the protesters, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, appealed to them to submit copies of their previous petitions and reports to his office, promising to bring the dispute to the attention of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

Erale, who disclosed that he had spent less than two months in Delta State, said the complaints raised by the protesters were new to him.

He urged the communities to provide relevant documents detailing their previous engagements and petitions, adding that he would formally communicate the security implications of the dispute to the police headquarters.

The police commissioner warned that the disagreement had the potential to threaten peace in the state if not properly addressed.

“All the issues you have raised are new to me because I have spent barely two months in Delta State. You said you have submitted several letters. Please, bring your reports and submit them to my office.

“I will write to the Inspector-General of Police to inform him that this matter has the potential to cause trouble in Delta State and urge him to look into it,” he said.

Erale, who said he previously served as Commissioner of Police during the last governorship election in Osun State, assured the protesters of his commitment to maintaining peace in Delta State.

He appealed to the communities to cooperate with security agencies and pursue their demands through peaceful engagement, promising to replicate the peaceful atmosphere he said was recorded during the Osun governorship election.

“I am ready to replicate the same thing here in Delta State. Please, on my honour, do this for me,” he appealed.