Politics
Warri Ijaws Back INEC Delineation Report, Accuse Remi Tinubu of Interference
Demand Additional Electoral Wards, State Constituency for Ijaw Communities
By Divine Perezide
The Ijaw people of Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State have thrown their weight behind the final report of the Supreme Court-ordered delineation exercise carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the outcome as a fair reflection of demographic and electoral realities in the area.
At a press briefing held in Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri, on Saturday, the Ijaw leaders commended INEC for what they termed a “thorough and courageous” exercise despite mounting controversies and legal battles surrounding the delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency.
The briefing was delivered by Hon. Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor on behalf of the Ijaws of Warri South LGA and jointly signed by Hon. Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, Chief M. Keme, and Comrade Moses Fiyebor.
The group said the report released by INEC on May 20, 2026, largely corrected decades of political marginalisation suffered by Ijaw communities in Warri South and acknowledged their historical presence and electoral relevance in the area.
According to the Ijaw leaders, the delineation of Ijaw electoral wards and registration areas into Warri South Constituency II of the Delta State House of Assembly aligns with the wishes and aspirations of the people.
“We welcome the final report of the fresh delineation exercise released by INEC. The report to a very large extent reflects the reality on ground, and we commend the Commission for doing a very thorough job,” the statement read.
The group, however, rejected claims by some members of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality that the Ogbe-Ijoh Ijaws were not part of Warri South LGA, insisting that historical records, government documents, court rulings, and electoral structures clearly established the Ijaw presence in Warri Township.
The Ijaw leaders disclosed that the issue had earlier been raised by Itsekiri representatives during stakeholder meetings on the delineation process but was resolved by INEC leadership after investigations and consultations.
According to them, INEC officials, including National Commissioners Prof. Rhoda Gumus and Dr. Baba Bila, confirmed during a July 2024 stakeholders’ meeting in Warri that available intelligence reports, physical settlements, and existing polling units established the Ijaw people as integral parts of Warri South LGA.
They further stated that dedicated INEC field officers were assigned specifically to Ijaw communities during the delineation process, leading to the creation of areas such as Bulou-Ama Ward 02, Ewein Ward 07, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Urban Ward 12, and parts of GRA Ward 08.
Citing historical records, the group maintained that Ogbe-Ijoh was the earliest settlement in present-day Warri Township.
They referenced the 1928 Warri Township Assessment Report, which described Ogbe-Ijoh as the original Ijaw settlement that later became the nucleus of modern Warri.
The statement also cited a 1923 letter by Chief Dore Numa, former Itsekiri leader, as well as the 1955 Western Region law that established the former Warri Urban District Council and recognised four autonomous electoral wards for the Ijaw people.
The Ijaw leaders alleged that the restructuring of electoral wards during the 1976 local government reforms led to the fragmentation of previously homogenous Ijaw wards into minority polling units across Pessu, GRA, Bowen, and Okere wards, thereby weakening their political representation.
They said the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 2, 2022, in the suit filed by Hon. George U. Timinimi and others against INEC became necessary to address the imbalance.
The group also accused Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, of allegedly attempting to frustrate the implementation of the delineation exercise in favour of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality.
According to the Ijaw leaders, the First Lady had allegedly used her influence to pressure INEC to withdraw the newly created wards for Ijaw communities in Warri South.
“The Ijaws of Warri South LGA are indigenous people and have a right to electoral wards and registration areas. It is oppressive for anyone to use public office to frustrate their political participation,” the statement added.
The group warned that attempts to suppress the rights of Ijaw communities could trigger avoidable tensions in the area, recalling the violent Warri crisis that erupted between 1997 and 2003 over disputes linked to local government headquarters and political representation.
While commending INEC for concluding the delineation process despite litigations and protests, the Ijaw leaders argued that the newly created wards were still inadequate considering that the Ijaws had four electoral wards as far back as 1955.
They therefore called for the creation of at least five homogenous electoral wards and an additional state constituency for Ijaw communities in Warri South LGA.
The leaders also urged INEC to disregard what they described as “frivolous protests” against the delineation exercise and remain committed to ensuring fairness and equity among all ethnic nationalities in the Warri Federal Constituency.
By Favour Bibaikefie
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to closing the human capital development gap in the Niger Delta, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts in that direction are firmly on course.
Otuaro said the expansion of educational opportunities under the Presidential Amnesty Programme demonstrates the President’s determination to equip young people from the Niger Delta with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to the development of the region and Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, and made available to the IduwiniVoice News Desk on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
According to the statement, more than 9,000 beneficiaries have so far been deployed by the programme to universities within Nigeria and overseas for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Otuaro said President Tinubu’s support for the expansion of the programme’s educational interventions was informed by the need to increase access to higher education for Niger Delta youths and strengthen the region’s human capital base.
The PAP Administrator made the remarks while addressing another batch of 35 offshore postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries who departed Nigeria on Monday for universities in England and Scotland in the United Kingdom.
He urged the beneficiaries to remain conscious of their responsibilities to the Niger Delta and Nigeria as they pursue their academic programmes abroad.
“The deliberate effort to reduce the human capital development gap in the Niger Delta is on course under President Bola Tinubu, and he is resolutely committed to it”, he said.
“This is reflected by the over 9,000 scholarship beneficiaries we have deployed within and outside the country because of the President’s favourable disposition to expansion of educational sponsorships and other initiatives of the programme.”
The beneficiaries are pursuing postgraduate programmes in areas including forensic audit, construction engineering management, data science analytics, law, software engineering, oil and gas engineering, cyber security, global public health and fintech analytics.
The 35 scholars form part of the 150 overseas postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries who participated in a pre-departure orientation organised by the programme in August.
Two earlier batches comprising 54 and 31 beneficiaries had already departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom.
According to the statement, the PAP Administrator has dispatched 243 beneficiaries for offshore scholarship programmes this year, further expanding the programme’s educational intervention for youths from the Niger Delta.
Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as the priority accorded the Niger Delta under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He charged the scholars to concentrate on their academic pursuits and avoid conduct capable of jeopardising their studies or stay abroad, stressing that the region would rely on their knowledge and expertise in advancing sustainable peace, stability, community development and nation-building.
“You are expected to focus on your studies because that is the primary purpose of your academic journey overseas. Gird yourself, go for excellence, and don’t engage in activities that will endanger you and your studies”, he said.
Otuaro further expressed confidence that scholarship opportunities under the programme would be sustained if President Tinubu secures reelection next year.
He consequently urged people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate what he described as the President’s commitment to the region by supporting him for continuity.
The PAP Administrator also acknowledged the role of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, commending him for his supervision of the programme and efforts towards ensuring that its interventions achieve the desired impact across the Niger Delta.
He equally praised stakeholders of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for their contributions towards maintaining peace and security in the region, noting that sustained cooperation remains essential to consolidating stability and development in the Niger Delta.
By Favour Bibaikefie
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Tanimu Turaki has rejected reports suggesting disagreements with its 2027 election candidates over the submission of nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement issued by the faction’s leadership, the group described the reports as false and misleading, insisting that its governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates remain united and fully support the party’s leadership.
The faction explained that its candidates were duly nominated through internal party procedures and expressed confidence that the process complied with relevant electoral guidelines. It also maintained that there was no conflict between the party leadership and candidates regarding access to INEC’s nomination portal or the submission of candidates’ details.
According to the group, attempts to portray internal disagreements are part of efforts to create confusion and undermine its preparations for the 2027 general elections. It urged party members and supporters to disregard what it called unfounded speculation.
The Turaki-led camp reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all lawful and constitutional measures to protect what it described as the mandate of its candidates. It added that the party remains focused on strengthening its structures and preparing for the upcoming elections despite the ongoing leadership dispute within the PDP.
By Rukevwe Odeh
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7, 2026, to hear all pending applications and the substantive suit filed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the party’s interim National Working Committee led by Kabir Turaki.
The hearing date was set by Justice Salim Ibrahim after lawyers representing the parties agreed to exchange all outstanding court documents before the next sitting. The court directed that every process must be filed and served on or before July 6, warning that no further delays would be accepted.
In the suit, the PDP BoT is asking the court to compel INEC to update its official records to reflect the Turaki-led interim leadership ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections. The plaintiffs argue that the electoral commission is legally obligated to comply with previous court decisions, which they claim nullified the party’s 2025 national convention and upheld the suspension of certain party officials.
The outcome of the case is expected to play a significant role in determining which leadership structure INEC officially recognises as the PDP continues efforts to resolve its internal leadership dispute before the next general election.
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