The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of Warri Federal Constituency have urged the Itsekiri ethnic nationality to "allow sleeping dogs lie", noting that despite the alteration of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) report by Presidential intervention to their favour, the Itsekiri ethnic nationality are still hell bent on dominating other ethnic nationalities in the Constituency.

The group, in their press briefing on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in response to the press statement by some Itsekiri and Urhobos of Agbarha, noted that such attitude to dominate other ethnic nationalities was demonstrated during the parley with President Tinubu.

Addressing the press and constituency members, they said, "We commend INEC for its compliance with the agreement of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo stakeholders in the timely release of the final report of the Supreme Court ordered delineation of registration areas/electoral wards.

"However, we must state that, the Presidential intervention in relation to Warri South Local Government Area which was for the holistic sharing of power by the constituent ethnic nationalities of Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaws was regrettably frustrated by the Itsekiri delegation at the mediation meeting held on the 12th day of June, 2026 at the NSA’s office, Abuja.

"Contrary to the false impression in the joint statement, the Presidential directive on power sharing was not restricted to the proposed Warri Federal Constituency 11, but to all positions in the Warri Federal Constituency, including the Warri Federal Constituency 1 covering Warri South LGA. This point was clearly made by the Federal Government delegation at the mediation meeting of June 12, 2026.

"This was the reason why Olorogun Victor Okumagba and Chief Westham Adehor were nominated by the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality to represent them in the negotiation meeting at the NSA’ office in order to decide power sharing in Warri South LGA. The presence of the Urhobo delegation at the power sharing meeting was not merely to witness Ijaw and Itsekiri power sharing agreement for the proposed Warri Federal Constituency 11, but for power sharing in Warri South LGA, but were frustrated out of the negotiation process by the Itsekiri delegation," they alleged.

The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo also accused the Agbarha Urhobos of forming an "unholy alliance" with the Itsekiri to continue the hegemony, and reiterated their conditional acceptance of the altered INEC recent report.

"It is therefore ridiculous and disgraceful for some Urhobos from Agbarha Kingdom to be happy to join the Itsekiris to issue a joint statement to undermine Urhobo interest in Warri South LGA in order to perpetrate Itsekiri dominance over other ethnic nationalities in the local government area.

"We must state clearly that, the Ijaws and Urhobos are not satisfied with the Eight (8) Registration Areas/Electoral Wards allocated to the Itsekiris in Warri South LGA considering their small population. However, we accepted the final report of the delineation in Warri South LGA as a mark of respect for Mr. President. Hence, we call on the Itsekiris to allow sleeping dogs lie.

"The fact that, the Itsekiris are still agitating despite Presidential intervention altering the final delineation report in their favour across the Warri Federal Constituency as against the actual INEC field report demonstrates their insatiable urge to dominate their neighbours and persistent affronts to constituted authorities over matters that have been resolved. They have demonstrated this disrespectful character to authorities in their opposition to various reports of Commissions of Inquiries and White Papers on how to resolve inter-ethnic rivalries in Warri," they noted.

Going forward, they called "on the Federal Government and INEC to disregard the ranting of the Itsekiris and Urhobos of Agbarha," noting that "The final report of the registration areas/electoral wards for Warri South LGA has been accepted by stakeholders, who are already participating in its implementation for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

"However, we call for a special registration of voters to be done in all the newly created polling units and registration areas in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State. This is to enable voters who have been denied political participation in the past register to vote in 2027 general elections and onward, and also enable transfer of voters to the newly created polling units and registration areas," they appealed.

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