By Rukky Odeh

The Ogbe Febokirifagha Ogbo (OFO) has rejected allegations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) imposed Ijaw names on electoral wards in Warri South Local Government Area, describing the claims as false, misleading, and baseless.

In a statement issued on May 28, OFO was reacting to a recent press briefing by Agbarha representatives who alleged that INEC unlawfully imposed Ijaw names in parts of Warri South following the recently concluded ward delineation exercise.

According to OFO, the commission merely complied with the judgment of the Supreme Court, which ordered a fresh delineation exercise that resulted in the allocation of three wards to the Ogbe-Ijoh people based on their geographical spread and population.

The group maintained that the exercise was carried out in line with the apex court’s directive and not through any form of political imposition.

OFO recalled that before the latest delineation, the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom already had several electoral wards within Warri South, including Alder’s Town Ward B3, Ogbe-Ijoh Ward C1, Ogbe-Ijoh Ward C2, and Ward F1 (GRA).

It alleged that over time, these wards were systematically reduced to polling units through political actions designed to weaken the representation of other ethnic groups in Warri.

Rather than resorting to public protests, the group said the Ijaw people pursued legal redress for more than a decade, culminating in the Supreme Court judgment that mandated INEC to conduct a fresh delineation exercise.

The organization further described as “disturbing” assertions that the Ogbe-Ijoh people do not own land in Warri, insisting that historical records, colonial leases, and government gazettes clearly establish the indigenous presence of the Ogbe-Ijoh people in the area.

According to OFO, Ogbe-Ijoh settlements and interests historically extended from Bowen Avenue through the Catholic Church axis on Warri-Sapele Road, stretching to Okere Prison, McIver Road, and the Old Port areas of Warri.

The group also referenced a memorandum reportedly signed on May 23, 1997, before a Judicial Commission of Inquiry by representatives of another kingdom and the Okere Urhobo people, which sought the inclusion of the Ijaw language in schools across the Warri metropolis.

It argued that such historical records contradict claims that the Ogbe-Ijoh people have no ancestral roots or land ownership within Warri.

OFO further stated that the era of what it described as false narratives, fabricated claims, and manipulation of legal processes to dominate other ethnic nationalities in Warri had ended.

The organization commended INEC for what it called the restoration of wards that were previously removed for political reasons and urged residents to support efforts aimed at sustaining peace in the area.

It also called on the National Security Adviser and other relevant security agencies to identify and monitor individuals or groups allegedly attempting to incite unrest through inflammatory statements regarding the delineation exercise.

The group appealed to members of the public to disregard what it termed divisive narratives capable of undermining the fragile peace currently being enjoyed in Warri.

The controversy over ward delineation in Warri South is part of a broader debate surrounding electoral representation among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in the Warri Federal Constituency, following INEC’s implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on electoral ward delineation in the area.

Source: Gbaramatu Kingdom History Media