The indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State at a press briefing in Warri have cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against "any further alteration" of the delineation report presented to stakeholders by the Commission on May 20, 2026.

The ethnic groups also demanded from INEC the immediate implementation of the current altered report, its upload into its portal without further delay, and the commencement of "a special registration and transfer of voters to the newly created Registration Areas and Polling Units in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State."

The warning and demands of the groups were contained in a joint statement issued and signed for on behalf of the ethnic groups in the Constituency by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, Olorogun Victor Okumagba, Chief Denbo-denbofa Oweikporodor, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye, Chief David Reje, and Hon. Samuel Ako, on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

The indigenous groups also expressed dissatisfaction at the altered INEC report of May 20, 2026, based on the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on June 11, 2026, which they said was "reluctantly accepted" out of respect for the Office of the President and Commander-in-Chief as well as in the interest of peace, but warned that any further "attempt to alter the report would amount to betray of trust by the Federal Government and INEC, and we should not be blamed for the likely consequences that would follow".

The groups said their warning is premised on the ground that "the Itsekiris are still unsatisfied despite the political interventions that have altered the INEC delineation report in their favour."

The Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups revealed that before the alterations, INEC's field report conducted in the three local government areas of Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North showed that in Warri South-West and Warri North the Ijaws dominated going by their huge populations as against the current altered report which they described as a "great injustice".

They said, "It would be recalled that, the INEC raw field report recommended only Four (4) Registration Areas/Electoral Wards for Itsekiris in Warri South West LGA because of their small population and communities and Fourteen (14) for the Ijaws who are the obvious majority with about Seventy-Five percent (75%) of the population, landmass and communities in Warri South West LGA.

"However, through political interventions and appeal for accommodation, the Itsekiri areas with only four wards from the field report has been increased to Nine (9) Registration Areas/Electoral Wards. This is an obvious injustice and a very bitter pill to take by the Ijaw people.

"In the same vein, the Itsekiri areas in Warri North LGA had only eight Registration Areas/Electoral Wards in the field report. However, the eight electoral wards have been increased to Ten (10) Registration Areas/Electoral Wards through political interventions and compromises.

"Cumulatively, the Ijaw Registration Areas in the three Warri Local Government Areas have been reduced from Twenty-Seven (27) Registration Areas/Electoral Wards proposed in the INEC field report of 4/4/2025 which reflects the reality on ground to Twenty-Four (24). While, the Itsekiri Registration Areas/Electoral Wards have been increased from Twenty-One (21) to Twenty-Seven (27) through Presidential and Political interventions. The Urhobo areas remain at Nine (9) Registration Areas recommended by the INEC field report of 4/4/2025. This obviously is injustice against the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri," they stated.

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