{"id":4532,"date":"2025-07-25T05:07:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T05:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/25\/we-will-not-tolerate-this-deliberate-delay-any-longer-justice-must-speak-now-says-warri-federal-constituency-ijaw-elders-as-they-charge-inec-to-implement-announce-delineation-repo\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T05:07:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T05:07:14","slug":"we-will-not-tolerate-this-deliberate-delay-any-longer-justice-must-speak-now-says-warri-federal-constituency-ijaw-elders-as-they-charge-inec-to-implement-announce-delineation-repo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/25\/we-will-not-tolerate-this-deliberate-delay-any-longer-justice-must-speak-now-says-warri-federal-constituency-ijaw-elders-as-they-charge-inec-to-implement-announce-delineation-repo\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe Will Not Tolerate This Deliberate Delay Any Longer, Justice Must Speak Now\u201d Says Warri Federal Constituency Ijaw Elders, As They Charge INEC To Implement, Announce Delineation Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Esther David<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OPEN LETTER TO INEC AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Will Not Tolerate This Deliberate Delay Any Longer: Justice Must Speak Now<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From: Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency
Date: July 25, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To:
The Chairman,
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENOUGH OF THIS DELAY \u2014 THE MAP MUST SPEAK TRUTH<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With deep anger burning in our bones and truth on our tongues, we write to express the growing outrage of the Ijaw people of Warri Federal Constituency over the deliberate and unjustified delay in releasing the long-completed INEC Ward Delineation Report for Warri South-West and Warri North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it be known to the world: We will not take this anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INEC has conducted the community mapping. It held stakeholder meetings. It visited the terrain. It consulted the facts. It completed the technical work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, for reasons best described as tribally induced blackmail from the Itsekiri oligarchy, INEC continues to sit on the report, pandering to a minority group that has weaponized colonial myths, political connections and media manipulation to halt a legitimate democratic exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE IJAWS ARE NOT GUESTS \u2014 THE ITSEKIRIS ARE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will now state what the records show, with no apologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ijaws are the aboriginal occupants of Warri Riverine territories including Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba, Egbema, Diebiri and beyond, long before the first Olu was crowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Itsekiris, led by Ginuwa, were migrants, a disgraced Benin prince expelled from his homeland and sheltered by Ijaw hosts in the 15th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cGinuwa, the son of the Oba of Benin, migrated with his followers down the Benin River and was hosted by indigenous Ijaw communities who permitted them to settle in Ode-Itsekiri.\u201d
\u2014 Chief J.S. Ayomike, “Benin and Warri: Meeting Points in History”, 1982<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Pacheco Pereira, a Portuguese explorer, in his 1506 journal \u201cEsmeraldo de Situ Orbis\u201d, wrote clearly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cGasper, son of John the Negro, dwelt in Escravos.\u201d a clear reference to Ijaw occupation before Itsekiri formation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

So how can those who arrived later now turn around and claim to be landlords?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WE FOUGHT FOR THIS DEMOCRACY \u2014 DO NOT MAKE US REGRET OUR PATIENCE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We, the Ijaws, have chosen law over violence, ballots over bullets and due process over disruption. For years, we\u2019ve allowed peace to prevail while others rewrite history on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we now ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For how long will INEC deny the Ijaw people proper ward representation in our own lands?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For how long will minority Itsekiri elites hold an entire process hostage, simply because they fear the day when population will finally override propaganda?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WAR IS BREWED BY INJUSTICE, NOT RESISTANCE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We warn INEC: This delay is no longer administrative, it is political, ethnic and dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it be recorded that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ijaws are the numerical majority in Warri South-West and large parts of Warri North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ijaws own more geographical area, more oil-bearing communities and more physical infrastructure than the Itsekiris in the said regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ijaws have fewer wards today not because we are fewer people but because the Itsekiri ruling class connived with past military and civilian regimes to maintain artificial political advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWhere there is injustice, there can be no peace.\u201d
\u2014 Martin Luther King Jr.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This injustice must now end. Delaying justice is denying justice. And we will not wait forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INEC IS A FEDERAL BODY, NOT AN ETHNIC TOOL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INEC must remind itself: it is a constitutional institution, not a servant of kings or tribal lobbies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final delineation report must be released now, and not negotiated under the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We remind you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1999 Constitution (as amended) in Section 14(2)(c) guarantees the \u201cparticipation of the people in their government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Electoral Act gives INEC exclusive powers to create, review and publish electoral boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) now makes it clear that host communities must be empowered and politically recognized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So tell us: Why is INEC afraid to release a report it has already completed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LET THE WORLD HEAR US CLEARLY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will not accept any further delay.
We will not accept any manipulation.
We will not accept Itsekiri lies replacing Nigerian law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If INEC fails to publish the final delineation results immediately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We shall petition the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS and other international observers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We shall mobilize our people across the creeks, the cities and the diaspora to defend our right to be counted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We shall challenge INEC legally and morally until truth wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A FINAL WORD TO INEC \u2014 HISTORY IS WATCHING YOU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the Chairman of INEC understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cannot build democracy on cowardice. You cannot preserve peace by sacrificing the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWhen the map does not reflect the land, it is not the map that is real, it is the lie.\u201d
\u2014 Ijaw Elder\u2019s Saying<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Release the report. Respect the truth. Obey the Constitution.
Let justice roll like the Forcados River widely, unstoppable and clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Tiemopere Joshua
(President)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Ebikeke T. Goodstime
(Secretary)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Esther David OPEN LETTER TO INEC AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA We Will…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13],"tags":[1287,1290,1289,1288],"class_list":["post-4532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-we-will-not-tolerate-this-deliberate-delay-any-longer","tag-announce-delineation-report","tag-as-they-charge-inec-to-implement","tag-justice-must-speak-now-says-warri-federal-constituency-ijaw-elders"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0769-1.jpg?fit=299%2C168&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4873,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/10\/03\/inecs-delay-in-implementing-the-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report-is-a-recipe-for-crisis___warri-ijaw-stakeholders-warns\/","url_meta":{"origin":4532,"position":0},"title":"INEC\u2019s Delay In Implementing The Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report Is A Recipe For Crisis___Warri Ijaw Stakeholders Warns","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"October 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David The Warri Ijaws Stakeholders issue this strong warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): your silence and deliberate delay in releasing the final Warri Federal Constituency ward and unit delineation report is not an act of neutrality \u2014 it is an act of provocation. By law,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_3273-1.jpg?fit=1040%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_3273-1.jpg?fit=1040%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_3273-1.jpg?fit=1040%2C767&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_3273-1.jpg?fit=1040%2C767&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 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of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Electoral"","block_context":{"text":"Electoral","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/electoral\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1745-1.jpg?fit=686%2C386&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1745-1.jpg?fit=686%2C386&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1745-1.jpg?fit=686%2C386&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4768,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/01\/this-tactical-delay-must-stop-announce-the-final-ward-delineation-report-for-warri-federal-constituency-now___group-blasts-inec\/","url_meta":{"origin":4532,"position":2},"title":"This Tactical Delay Must Stop: Announce The Final Ward Delineation Report For Warri Federal Constituency Now___Group Blasts 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https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0238-1.jpg?fit=935%2C578&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4992,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/inecs-deliberate-delay-is-a-contempt-of-the-supreme-court-of-nigeria-says-warri-elders-group-urges-inec-to-immediately-announce-final-delineation-result\/","url_meta":{"origin":4532,"position":3},"title":"\u201cINEC\u2019s Deliberate Delay Is A Contempt Of The Supreme Court Of Nigeria\u201d Says Warri Elders Group, Urges INEC To Immediately Announce Final Delineation Result","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"November 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (NSA) AND THE NIGERIAN REPUBLIC FROM: CONCERNED ELDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY Subject: INEC\u2019s Deliberate Delay is a Contempt of the Supreme Court, Announce the Final Delineation Result Now DATE: 6\/11\/2025 Your Excellency, We write\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5499,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/03\/01\/why-we-will-boycott-the-2027-elections-if-inec-fail-to-implement-the-warri-federal-constituency-delineation-report___says-ijaw-urhobo-coalition-group\/","url_meta":{"origin":4532,"position":4},"title":"\u201cWhy We Will Boycott The 2027 Elections If INEC Fail To Implement The Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report\u201d___Says Ijaw, Urhobo Coalition Group","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"March 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Ebiowei Gabriel Warri, Delta State______ A group under the auspices of Protectors Of Ijaw, Urhobo Heritage In Warri Federal Constituency, has made a strong worded press statement directed at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over what the it described as deliberate delay in the implementation of the Supreme\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4694-1.jpg?fit=539%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, 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Announce the Final Delineation Result Now! Warri is not a kingdom. It never was. It is far more\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1b6","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4532\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}