WARD DELINEATION: “Your Delay Is Dangerous”__Warri Historical Truth And Justice Group Tells INEC -

SOS TO INEC: YOUR DELAY IS DANGEROUS, HISTORY IS BLEEDING IN WARRI

From: Warri Historical Truth and Justice

To: The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abuja
Date: August 7, 2025

WHEN JUSTICE IS DELAYED, FRAUD IS EMBOLDENED

We issue this SOS not out of fear but out of historical fury.
We see what is happening. And so do Nigerians. INEC’s silence on the final delineation result for Warri Federal Constituency is now enabling colonial fraud, elite manipulation and ethnic provocation.

The Itsekiri political class is desperately fighting to retain the disgraceful and unjust ward structure of 6 (Itsekiri): 4 (Urhobo): 0 (Ijaw) a structure that is not only undemocratic but already declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Timinimi v. INEC (SC/CV/1033/2023).

Why is INEC allowing itself to become a weapon of oppression?

HISTORICAL FACTS: WE OWNED WARRI BEFORE GINUWA EVER ARRIVED

It is on historical record, from colonial anthropologists, Catholic missionaries and British consuls, that the Ijaw people of Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba, Egbema, Diebiri and others occupied the Forcados, Escravos and Benin River regions centuries before Ginuwa fled from Benin.

The Ijos (Ijaws) are regarded as the aboriginal inhabitants of the creeks and swamps surrounding the Benin and Escravos Rivers. Their presence predates the arrival of the Itsekiri kingdom.”
Captain H. Hughes, Intelligence Report, Warri District, 1924

“The Gbaramatu and Ogbe-Ijoh clans are some of the earliest riverine communities. Their kingship systems are independent of the Olu.”
British Colonial Resident Report, 1913

When Ginuwa, a Bini Banished prince, arrived, it was Ijaw communities that gave him shelter, hosted his entourage and allowed him to settle on our lands. What he and his descendants did was convert hospitality into monarchy and over time, monarchy into territorial falsehood.

COLONIAL RECORDS NEVER GRANTED ITSEKIRI OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND

Let it be known: There is no single colonial map or survey that grants the Itsekiri exclusive ownership over Warri.

The land to the west and south of the Warri River is held by Ijo communities under native tenure. The Olu’s influence is limited and often resisted.”
Memo by Acting Governor Burdon to the Colonial Office, 1917

So again, we ask INEC: Who gave the Itsekiri 6 wards?
And why are Ijaw people living on Ijaw land with far majority be denied through manipulation?

LEGAL JUDGMENTS CONFIRM IJAW LAND OWNERSHIP

Omejor v. Dore Numa (1926) – The court held that Dore Numa was merely a leaseholder.
Ijaw Communal Land Trustees v. Shell-BP (1971) – Court ruled that Ijaw lands cannot be claimed or rented out by Itsekiri parties.
Ogbobine v. Shell (1973) – Court reaffirmed Ijaw title to oil lands in Gbaramatu.

These are binding decisions. They affirm that the Itsekiri do not own the lands where they claim electoral dominance.

SUPREME COURT HAS RULED – WHY IS INEC STILL SILENT?

INEC is under obligation to obey the decision of the Supreme Court. In SC/CV/1033/2023, the court ruled:

“A fresh delineation must be done in Warri Federal Constituency in line with historical, demographic, and geographic realities. The previous ward structure unjustly disenfranchises indigenous populations.”
“Supreme Court”.

Yet, INEC initiated the process, conducted hearings, visited communities, received evidence and then froze.

Why? Who is INEC afraid of? Daisy Danjuma? Remi Tinubu? Thrown?

THE DANGER OF INEC’S SILENCE: YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE

Every day INEC keeps quiet, the Itsekiri elites grow bolder:

Fabricating colonial tales

Threatening electoral violence

Disenfranchising majority populations

Blackmailing Nigeria with their fake Olu crown

We remind INEC that no ethnic group has a divine right to political dominance. And no delay in justice can protect a lie.

OUR FINAL DEMAND: INEC, OBEY THE SUPREME COURT OR BE READY FOR RESISTANCE

We, the Ijaw people of Warri Federal Constituency, hereby declare:

NO FINAL DELINEATION RESULT, NO CONTINUOUS VOTER REGISTRATION (CVR)