Photo: Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
By Didimoko A. Didimoko, Asaba
The Itsekiri nation has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the Warri Federal Constituency delineation dispute has produced definitive outcomes, insisting that consultations among stakeholders remain ongoing.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT) and signed by its Secretary, Sir Amorighoye Mene, who participated in meetings held with President Tinubu on June 11 and at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on June 12 over the delineation dispute.
The statement followed newspaper advertorials and public comments by some Ijaw and Urhobo groups regarding the outcome of discussions convened by the President over the contentious delineation of electoral wards and constituencies by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the Itsekiri nation, the President’s intervention was intended to encourage dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among the ethnic nationalities in the area rather than impose predetermined political arrangements.
“The Itsekiri nation rejects attempts by any group to present contested interpretations or ongoing discussions as settled outcomes of the Presidential intervention. Such representations neither advance peace nor reflect the spirit in which the engagements were convened,” the statement said.
The group noted that the June 11 meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was attended by representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, as well as Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
According to the statement, President Tinubu stressed the need for peace, dialogue and consensus-building as the basis for resolving concerns arising from the ward delineation exercise. The Itsekiri leaders maintained that the President made no pronouncement altering the judicially recognised status of any local government area.
They added that discussions focused on practical measures for implementing lawful decisions while addressing the concerns of affected stakeholders.
The statement said issues relating to ward nomenclature in Warri South Local Government Area and questions of representation and inclusiveness in Warri South-West Local Government Area were among matters discussed during the meeting.
Following the engagement, the President reportedly directed representatives of the affected ethnic groups to continue consultations under the supervision of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
In line with that directive, representatives of the Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic nationalities met on June 12 at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja, where proposals relating to representation and power-sharing arrangements within a proposed Warri Federal Constituency II were considered.
Sources familiar with the discussions said proposals examined during the consultations included a ward structure of nine wards for the Itsekiri and 11 wards for the Ijaw in Warri South-West Local Government Area, as well as an equal distribution of 10 wards each between the two ethnic groups in Warri North Local Government Area.
The consultations also reportedly explored the creation of a new Warri Federal Constituency II after the 2027 general election, comprising Warri North and Warri South-West local government areas.
Additional state constituencies for the two councils were also discussed. Under the proposals, Warri South-West would be represented by an Itsekiri lawmaker, while Warri North would be represented by an Ijaw lawmaker.
However, the Itsekiri nation emphasised that no final decisions had been reached on any of the proposals, noting that they remained subject to further consultations, legal considerations and constitutional processes where applicable.
The statement further disclosed that President Tinubu repeatedly urged all parties to avoid actions capable of undermining peace or frustrating efforts towards an amicable resolution of the dispute.
The President was also said to have cautioned against inflammatory narratives that could heighten tensions in the oil-producing region.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful engagement, the Itsekiri nation called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint and support ongoing dialogue.
“The Itsekiri nation remains committed to peaceful dialogue with all stakeholders. We urge all parties to refrain from misinformation, avoid actions capable of escalating tensions, and support ongoing efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, unity and development within the Warri Federal Constituency,” the statement added.
