“Allow INEC To Publish Final Field Report Of Delineation Exercise” Says Warri Federal Constituency Stakeholders, As They Send Open Letter To President Tinubu, National Security Adviser
By Uche Alvin
OPEN LETTER TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Supreme Court-Mandated Ward Delineation Exercise: Allow INEC to Publish Final Fieldwork Report for Warri Federal Constituency.
We, write to you not only as concerned Nigerians but as direct stakeholders in the peace, stability and democratic integrity of Warri Federal Constituency. The purpose of this letter is to respectfully urge your office to refrain from being used either overtly or covertly as an instrument by certain interest groups seeking to obstruct the constitutional and judicially mandated work of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Specifically, we call on your esteemed office to uphold its non-judicial, apolitical role by resisting the pressure reportedly being exerted by a section of the Itsekiri elite and sympathisers. These actors have allegedly attempted to influence the outcome of INEC’s delineation process through a parade of legally inconsequential and often frivolous court rulings aimed at undermining the field report of the Commission. It is imperative that your office respects the jurisdictional boundaries set by the Constitution: the NSA office is not a court of law and electoral matters fall squarely within INEC’s constitutional mandate.
The Supreme Court Judgment: Clear, Binding and Final
On December 2, 2022, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in Hon. George Timinimi & Others v. INEC (SC.413/2016), issued an unequivocal judgment: that no electoral process whether voter registration or elections, should proceed in Warri Federal Constituency until a full delineation of wards and polling units has been completed and implemented.
This is not a discretionary guideline. It is a binding judicial directive. INEC, having commendably concluded its fieldwork for this delineation, is now duty-bound to publish and operationalize the report without further delay. Any interference or delay, especially one driven by extrajudicial influence or politically orchestrated court interpretations would not only constitute contempt of court but would also jeopardize national security by undermining public confidence in the democratic process.
Disinformation and Historical Revisionism: The Role of Itsekiri Leadership
It is deeply troubling that INEC’s inaction appears linked to ongoing campaigns of historical revisionism and disinformation led by Itsekiri leaders. These individuals falsely claim near-total ancestral ownership of Warri Federal Constituency, an assertion flatly contradicted by centuries of historical, colonial, legal and governmental documentation.
Contrary to this revisionist narrative, the Ijaw people of Ogbe-Ijoh, Gbaramatu, Isaba, Diebiri and Egbema Kingdoms are the aboriginal inhabitants of Warri Federal Constituency. Their settlements and systems of governance predate the arrival of Prince Ginuwa and the establishment of the Itsekiri monarchy.
Multiple court judgments, far from supporting the Itsekiri claim, in fact repudiate it. For instance:
•Suit Nos. W/148/56 and W/63/58 were struck out, no legal rights were awarded.
•In Idudun v. Okumagba (W/48/68), the Supreme Court confirmed that the Ginuwa dynasty did not extend to Warri city.
•In CA/AS/4041/2016, the court dismissed attempts to nullify Ijaw and Urhobo traditional leadership recognition.
•In Warri North, landmark cases such as SC/208/2002, W/53A/63, and C/S/2/58 confirmed the Egbema Ijaw people’s land rights.
These are not merely legal precedents; they represent historical truth.
Ogbe-Ijoh: The Foundational Kingdom of Warri Township of Warri South L.G.A
As documented in the 1928 Warri Township Assessment Report, “Ogbe-Ijoh was the original settlement which became the nucleus of Warri Township.” Historical records also show that in 1923, the Itsekiri leader, Chief Dore Numa, acknowledged in writing that he acquired land in Warri via leases from the Ogbe-Ijoh people, never by native title.
This acknowledgment further invalidates recent Itsekiri claims of dominion over the entire Warri area. It also affirms the Ijaw people’s foundational status in the social, political and economic fabric of Warri Federal Constituency.
Official Recognition of Ijaw Autonomy in Warri Federal Constituency.
Over the decades, statutory and customary law has consistently recognized the distinct identity and sovereignty of Ijaw Kingdoms and their communities:
Warri Divisional Council (W.R.L.N. 176 of 1955) – Recognized Ogbe-Ijoh as a distinct council area.
Warri Urban District Council (W.R.L.N. 177 of 1955) – Allotted separate electoral wards to Ogbe-Ijoh: Wards B3, C1, C2, and F1.
Chiefs Law (1957, Cap 19) – Excluded Egbema, Gbaramatu, and Ogbe-Ijoh from the Olu of Warri’s authority.
Bendel State Edict (B.S.L.N. 44 of 1979) – Recognized the Amaokosu of Ogbe-Ijoh as the traditional ruler of the area.
Delta State Traditional Rulers Law, officially identifies seven (7) distinct and independent kingdoms in Warri Federal Constituency:
Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom (Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh)
Gbaramutu Kingdom (Pere of Gbaramatu)
Egbema Kingdom (Agadagba of Egbema)
Isaba Kingdom ( Pere of Isaba)
Itsekiri Kingdom (Olu of Warri)
Okere-Urhobo Kingdom (Orosuen)
Agbarha Kingdom (Ovie of Agbarha)
This institutional recognition further invalidates Itsekiri claims over Ogbe-Ijoh, Gbaramatu, Isaba, Diebiri and Egbema lands and territories.
Judicial Confirmation of Ijaw Autonomy
The late Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, in Suit A/36/1999 and its appeal (CA/AS/4041/2016), sought to invalidate the recognition of Urhobo and Ijaw traditional rulers in Warri. Both cases were dismissed, the most recent judgment delivered on June 5, 2023, reasserting the legal standing of Ijaw and Urhobo leadership in Warri Federal Constituency.
Warri South West: Demographics, Geography and Legal Reality
Contrary to Itsekiri claims, Warri South West is overwhelmingly Ijaw. The Ogbe-Ijoh, Gbaramatu, Isaba and Diebiri kingdoms constitute the majority. The only Itsekiri presence is a narrow coastal strip, roughly 1.5 km wide comprising Ugborodo, Madangho, Akpakpa, Ajudaibo and Ogidigben.
Despite this, electoral wards were disproportionately allocated to these smaller Itsekiri communities, the Supreme Court’s judgment in SC/413/2016 explicitly aimed to correct this electoral imbalances caused by historical manipulation.
Misleading Use of Court Cases
Itsekiris often cite cases such as Apoh & Perememighan or Eyin Pessu v. Brigbe, which either bear no relevance to Ijaw territories or concern minor disputes. For example:
W/30/71: Chief Kenekeredi Bebeakele v. Alopkpa Olioki affirmed Ogbe-Ijoh ownership.
WACC/651T/93: Wilikie (Inorin) v. Korukeme (Ogbe-Ijoh), Itsekiri claims were dismissed.
CA/B/228/1997 overturned a flawed ruling in W/124/76: Tuoyo v. Akori, which had wrongly granted Itsekiris rights over some portions of Gbaramatu lands.
This pattern of suing select families, inflating land claims and misapplying judgments must be exposed and rejected.
Isaba and Diebiri: Sovereignty Beyond Contest
Isaba Kingdom has no record of land disputes with the Itsekiris. On the contrary, the Itsekiri royal line descends from Ginuwa’s marriage to Ebinimi-ere of Isaba.
The Diebiri people, likewise, have exercised autonomous governance since pre-colonial times. They signed a Treaty of Protection in 1893 and their sovereignty was affirmed in the 1931 Warri Intelligence Report by C.C. Legge.
WARRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
The Egbema Ijaw people are governed by His Royal Majesty, the Agadagba of Egbema. In legal terms, the Itsekiris have consistently lost all land disputes to the Egbema Ijaws:
Appeal No. SC/208/2002: Anireju Keregbe & Anor v. Sunday Keregbe & Ors, the case, which involved land at Uba Majebi Ogbosanine, was dismissed from the Area Customary Court through to the Supreme Court on January 25, 2008.
Suit No. W/53A/63: The court upheld the earlier ruling in Suit C/S/2/58, confirming Ijaw ownership of all lands in and around Tsekelewu, while the Itsekiris were declared as customary tenants.
These legal precedents invalidate any notion of Itsekiri ownership and dominion over Warri North.
A Plea for Institutional Integrity and Non-Interference
Your Excellency, the Office of the National Security Adviser is a cornerstone of national stability. It must not be misused as a conduit for partisan interests or legal distortions. The office of the NSA is not a court of law. It is neither the interpreter nor the enforcer of Supreme Court rulings; that role lies with the judiciary and constitutionally empowered institutions such as INEC.
By allowing INEC to fulfill its lawful mandate free from political intimidation or judicial theater, your office will reinforce national security, public trust and the rule of law.
Conclusion: Let Justice and Democracy Prevail
With the 2027 general elections approaching, time is of the essence. We respectfully urge your office to:
1.Distance itself from any attempt to obstruct or influence INEC’s execution of the delineation field report.
2.Ensure that national security is not weaponized to serve narrow interests under any guise.
3. Order INEC to release the final Ward Delineation Report without further delay.
The Supreme Court has spoken. The Constitution is clear. History is unambiguous. Now is the time for action.
Let justice be done, lest the nation reap the consequences of institutional compromise and historical denial.
Yours faithfully,
Ebiowei Kuro
President
Ezonkeme Owei
Publicity Secretary
IJaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency.
About The Author
Share this:
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
