The controversy surrounding the recent implementation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fresh delineation report took a different twist on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, when the Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of Warri Federal Constituency questioned the basis of how some Itsekiri communities were included as part of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The observation was made at a joint press briefing by the leaders of the two ethnic groups in response to a press briefing by some Itsekiris and Urhobos of Agbarha on the 19th of June, 2026, who opposed the status of Ijaw communities in Warri South LGA.

Miffed by the claim of the Itsekiris and Agbarha Urhobos that Ijaw communities are not part of Warri South, despite evidence to the contrary, prompted the indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo to question the modalities used to assign some Itsekiri communities to the status of Warri South.

They argued that it is irresponsible for the Itsekiris and Urhobos of Agbarha to claim that Ewein Community—one of the Ijaw communities that is only separated from Warri Township by a canal of less than 20 metres wide—is not part of Warri South, but other Itsekiri communities in the area that are five kilometers away are not contested.

"The Ewein Community, which constitutes part of the newly created Ewein ward in Warri South LGA, is by the bank of the Warri River and only separated from Warri Township by a canal of less than 20 metres wide," the indigenous group explained.

Speaking further, they pointed out that, "The boundary between Warri South LGA and Warri South-West LGA is by the middle of Warri River. Hence, it is ridiculous for some Itsekiris and Urhobos of Agbarha to argue that Ewein Community does not exist in Warri South LGA, whereas the Itsekiri Communities of Ode-Itsekiri and Orugbo, which are about 5 kilometres away and on the opposite side of Warri Township, are regarded as communities in Warri South LGA, when geographically and by the law establishing the Warri South LGA, they ought to be in Warri South-West LGA.

"The question is: How is it logically and legally possible for a community of less than 20 metres close to Warri Township not to be regarded as part of Warri South LGA, but communities situated in a distance of 5 kilometes away from Warri Township are regarded as part of Warri South LGA?" they queried.

"The same thing applies to the Itsekiri Communities of Omadino, Obodo and Ubeji and Ugbokodo-Itsekiri, where you have to pass through Uvwie and Okpe LGAs before you get to these communities, but they are regarded as part of Warri South LGA.

"The foregoing demonstrates the illogical absurdities in the case of the Itsekiris and Urhobos of Agbarha against Ijaws of Warri South LGA," they buttressed.

The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo further claimed that the press briefing by the Itsekiris and Agbarha Urhobos was also aimed at misleading the general public in relation to names and composition of registration areas / electoral wards, as well as the status of the Ijaws in Warri South LGA.

Respondibg to the issue they said, "For the avoidance, we wish to state as follows: That President Bola Ahmed Tinubu never directed for the change of names of registration areas / electoral wards in Warri South Local Government Area as proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The President’s directive on registration areas / electoral wards was clear and restricted to Warri South-West LGA and generally on power sharing in the three Warri Local Government Areas.

"The directive of President Tinubu and agreement of stakeholders on INEC’s registration areas / electoral wards has since been implemented by INEC’s final composition of registration areas released on Tuesday, the 16th day of June, 2026. The INEC delineation of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State in line with the Supreme Court judgment has been concluded," they affirmed.

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