Fresh Warri Delineation: Ijaw got 27 wards, Itsekiri 21, Urhobo 9

By Peters Monday, Abuja

Following the new political twist, the Ijaw ethnic group has emerged with a dominant presence in two out of the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Warri, regarding the conclusion of a fresh ward delineation exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Congress gathered that the new delineation, which aimed to correct longstanding concerns over equitable representation, has redrawn the political map of the Warri federal constituency, leading to a shift in ward distribution across the three LGAs.

Following the shift in the political landscape, in Warri North LGA, which now comprises a total of 18 wards, the Ijaw communities hold 10 wards, while the Itsekiri communities control 8.

While Warri South-West LGA witnessed the most significant shift, with the Ijaw getting 14 out of 19 wards, leaving the Itsekiri with 5 wards.

However, in Warri South LGA, the Ijaw communities hold only 3 of the 20 wards. The Itsekiri control 8, while the Urhobo people lead with 9 wards.

The fresh delineation has been met with celebration in Ijaw and Urhobo communities, who view the exercise as a long-overdue correction of historical marginalization. Supporters have hailed the outcome as a “great injustice corrected” and expressed gratitude to those who championed the cause.

“This marks a new dawn for political representation in Warri,” a community leader said. “For years, our numbers were not reflected in the political structure. Today, justice has finally spoken.”

Recall, the Ijaw of Warri, led by George Timinimi secured a Supreme Court judgement to conduct fresh delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency before the 2023 General Elections.

However, the process which started after the elections has now been concluded, according to the INEC report.

INEC officials have yet to release a detailed statement on the process that informed the delineation, but the outcome is already generating conversations about power dynamics and future elections in Delta State.

Observers anticipate that the shift will significantly influence local politics, resource allocation, and governance in the Warri area.

As the dust settles, stakeholders across ethnic and political lines are expected to begin strategizing around the new electoral realities brought on by the updated ward map.