Oborevwori brokers peace

The Indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo people of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately implement the final report of the Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the constituency.
 
In an open letter yesterday, and addressed to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, the groups expressed concern over what they described as delays in implementing the commission’s final delineation report unveiled on May 20, 2026.
 
The groups recalled that the Supreme Court, in its December 2, 2022, judgment in George U. Timinimi & 9 Others v. INEC, ordered the electoral commission to conduct a fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units across Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North local council areas for future elections.
 
According to the letter, INEC subsequently engaged stakeholders in Delta State and conducted fieldwork between July 10 and 19, 2024, before presenting a draft report to them in April 2025 for comments and observations.

Meanwhile, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, intervened in the tensions arising from the ward and unit delineation exercise, convening a high-level peace meeting with leaders of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities at Government House, Asaba.
 
The meeting, which brought together ethnic leaders, security chiefs, and top government officials, focused on preserving peace and fostering dialogue among stakeholders amid growing concerns over the delineation process.
 
Speaking during the meeting, Oborevwori stressed the need for unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Warri, noting that peace and security remain central pillars of his administration’s MORE Agenda.
 
The governor said: “We want peace in Warri Federal Constituency. The stakeholders have assured me that they will keep to the peace accord. Under the MORE Agenda, we have promised Deltans enhanced peace and security, and we do not need any crisis in our dear state.
 
“Warri is one family. There is nothing that we cannot resolve through dialogue. That is why I called this meeting, even at short notice. We are ready to work together and sustain the peace we are enjoying. We will continue to work with security agencies and all ethnic nationalities to ensure lasting peace in the federal constituency and every part of the state.”
 
Speaking on behalf of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, Godspower Gbenekama commended the governor for his intervention and assured Deltans that the Ijaw people remain committed to peace.
 
He said: “The governor has given us a marching order to ensure there is no crisis. I assure the people of Delta State that no Ijaw man will attack any Itsekiri man or village. It will not happen. By the grace of God, there will be continuous peace.”
 
Also speaking, Olorogun Victor Okumagba, who represented the Urhobo ethnic nationality, said: “For some time now, issues surrounding the ward and unit delineation in Warri Federal Constituency have been threatening the peace in Warri.”