Ijaw and Urhobo accept Tinubu's intervention but warn INEC — this is serious

The Ijaw and Urhobo leaders of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State have finally spoken. At a joint press conference in Warri yesterday, they said they reluctantly accept President Tinubu's intervention in the Warri delineation dispute. But listen to this — they made it very clear they will not accept any further alteration to the INEC report presented on May 20, 2025. They warned INEC not to touch that report again, not even a single change to the names of Registration Areas or Polling Units.

What caught my attention is how they called out the Itsekiris directly. They said the Itsekiris are still unsatisfied despite all the political interventions that already tilted the delineation in their favour. This ethnic tension in Warri is nothing new, but the way these groups are drawing lines and making threats is worrying. They even said any further delay or alteration would amount to betrayal of trust by the Federal Government and INEC, and they should not be blamed for the consequences. That is a veiled threat if I have ever seen one.

Now, I understand the frustration. Communities have been fighting over electoral wards and polling units for years. But when leaders start saying things like "we should not be blamed for the likely consequences," it sounds like they are preparing the ground for trouble. Is this really how we want to settle political boundaries? By threatening violence if we do not get our way? Be honest — does this kind of ethnic brinkmanship make you feel safe about the next election in Delta State?