The people of Ikantu community in the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, to implement the fresh wards delineation report of May 20, 2026, as the way forward to end the mass action in the constituency.

The counsel was given by the Amadiwei of the riverine community, Chief Shola Gbofeyin, during a protest that led to the shut down of the Odidi and the Egwa II flow stations in the OML 42 within the constituency on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

Earlier in the day, women from the community, in their numbers, stormed the flow stations, with their presence forcing staff on duty to suspend operations for safety reasons.

It was also learnt that the protest had initially commenced on Monday with protesters peacefully demanding the implementation of the ward delineation report as the only solution for them to evacuate the stations.

In another development, the Amadiwei has issued a stern warning to those he alleged to be spreading false narratives on the ancestry of the riverine community to beware henceforth, especially on the grounds that it is not an Ijaw community.

He reiterated the position of the elders and other leaders that Ikantu remains a part and parcel of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom subject to the rule of the Pere, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II (JP), Aketekpe, Agadagba.

"We are using this medium to also extend a warning to the likes of Alex Eyengho and his co-travellers to stop spreading false claims that Ikantu is an Itsekiri community.

"We have to respond to his claims in order for him not to misinform the general public on an issue that has been resolved and that cannot be disputed. Ikantu is never an Itsekiri land and will never be one. He should stop speculating and peddling false claims," he warned.

On the non-implementation of the INEC report, Chief Gbofeyin stated that the Ikantu people stand firm with the demand of other communities that the latest report must be implemented.

The Warri Federal Constituency, which comprises of Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North local government areas of the state, is occupied by the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri, with the former two accusing the latter of trying to influence the report through interference from the Presidency.

Meanwhile, the shutdown of the flow stations in the constituency by the protesting women has affected oil productions as well as affected other economic livewire in the area, with observers calling on the Federal Government to intervene before the situation deteriorates.

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