WARRI, DELTA STATE
The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) has issued a firm warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring that no elections will be held in the Warri Federal Constituency in 2027 if the ongoing delineation exercise is not completed and fresh voter registration is not conducted for the Ijaw and Urhobo communities.
Speaking with the Daily Post in Warri, Comrade Austin Ozobo, the National President of IPDI, emphasized that the communities will not accept continued political marginalization.
“INEC should know there would be no election in Warri Federal Constituency if it fails to complete the delineation exercise and conduct fresh registration of the Ijaws and Urhobos,” Ozobo stated.
Calls for Calm Amid Rising Tension
Ozobo urged Ijaw and Urhobo residents to remain calm and peaceful despite provocations, while continuing to push for the completion of the delineation.
“Despite the provocation, I appeal to the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri to continue to exercise maturity and calmness,” he said.
Tension with Itsekiri Over Delineation
The IPDI leader also accused elements within the Itsekiri community of trying to disrupt the delineation process through threats of violence, warning that such actions could spark another major crisis in the region.
“The Itsekiris want to stop the delineation exercise with war and then seek a roundtable to overturn the process. If they create another Warri crisis, the outcome will be far worse than the 1997 crisis,” he warned.
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Ozobo called on Itsekiri leaders to discourage any incitement of youths and avoid pushing the region into renewed ethnic conflict.
Background on the Delineation Controversy
The Warri delineation issue has long been contentious, with calls for INEC to redraw constituency boundaries to reflect current population realities and ensure fair representation for all ethnic groups in the region. Many Ijaw and Urhobo leaders have argued that the current structure disproportionately favors the Itsekiri despite demographic shifts.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, pressure is mounting on INEC to resolve the delineation deadlock and uphold equity in electoral representation.
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