The Warri indigenous Urhobos and their Ijaw counterparts have called on the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the Supreme Court judgement on redelineation of electoral units and wards in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Scores of the combined people of Agbarha Warri and Okere Urhobo Kingdoms staged a peaceful protest in their areas in the Warri metropolis, which included: Edjeba, Otovwodo (Agbassa), Igbudu, Ogunu and Okurode popularly known as Ekurede Urhobo (in Agbarha Warri Kingdom) and Okumagba Estate, Okumagba Layout and Okumagba Avenue (in Okere Urhobo Kingdom) as they carried placards to back their call.
The Chairman of Agbarha Warri community of Edjeba, Comrade Oscar Tujele complained that the Warri Urhobos were short-changed under the present ward delineation in the Warri South Local Government Area.
He also pointed out that Edjeba Ward 10 was grossly overpopulated, with many eligible voters in the area. “The ward is home to several prominent institutions, including the College of Education Warri, Shell Development Petroleum Company (SPDC), Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Government House Annex, and numerous multinational corporations, which contributes to its high population density,” he said. Similarly, the Vice Chairman of Okere Urhobo Development Movement, Comrade Efe Opogen expressed that the entire kingdom of Okere Urhobo has only two federal wards calling for the immediate redelineation of electoral units and wards in the Warri Federal Constituency.
For the President of Agbarha Warri League, Mr Joseph Ugbejevun, who spoke to our correspondent, only a retrogressive mind will kick against the exercise.
“People are happily agitating for the creation of more electoral units and wards owing to population explosion. It is therefore unimaginable for any person to oppose the redelineation of electoral units and wards in the Warri Federal Constituency,” he added.
Ijaw rights advocate, Jonah Oboku revealed that the community took legal action against alleged marginalization in the Warri Federal Constituency’s boundaries and the Supreme Court ruled in their favour.
Oboku pointed out that despite their larger population in Warri North and Warri South West local government areas, the Ijaws have fewer electoral units and wards.
He expressed confidence that the redelineation exercise will rectify the historical inequality faced by the Ijaw people in these areas.
All those who spoke assured that the exercise will be peaceful and that majority of people in the constituency were in favour of it.
