INEC Delineation: Renaming Itsekiri Communities as Ijaw Wards Undermines Equity

 

By Allison Eyewumi 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s proposed Ward Delineation Report for Warri Federal Constituency raises alarming questions about equity and transparency. The report appears to systematically favor Ijaw communities in Warri South West and Warri North, disregarding the Itsekiri people’s historical and political majority in these areas. This move risks inflaming longstanding tensions and eroding trust in Nigeria’s electoral institutions.  

A History of Collaboration, Not Conquest

Since 2003, the Itsekiri and Ijaw have shared a political alliance, with the Itsekiri repeatedly prioritizing communal harmony over narrow self-interest. For instance, in 2015, an Itsekiri leader withdrew his candidacy to pave the way for an Ijaw deputy governor. Similarly, in 2019 and 2023, Itsekiri voters overwhelmingly supported Ijaw candidates for the Warri South West State Assembly seat. Even in Warri North, a local government chairmanship was ceded to the Ijaw—a gesture of goodwill despite their minority status.  

These concessions were not acts of weakness but demonstrations of political maturity. Yet, rather than reciprocate this goodwill, recent actions suggest a troubling pattern of exploitation.  

INEC’s Delineation: A Breach of Trust

INEC’s decision to rename ancestral Itsekiri communities as Ijaw wards—and adjust established boundaries—reeks of gerrymandering. Such maneuvers distort demographic realities and threaten to disenfranchise the Itsekiri people. While delineation is a routine electoral process, it must adhere to constitutional principles of fairness, not serve as a tool for political advantage.  

A Call for Transparency

The Itsekiri are not opposed to delineation. We demand, however, that INEC and the National Boundaries Commission:  

1. Uphold Equity: Respect the indigenous status and majority presence of Itsekiri communities.  

2. Ensure Transparency: Publicly clarify the criteria used to justify renaming and boundary adjustments.  

3. Engage Stakeholders: Consult directly with Itsekiri leaders to address grievances before finalizing the report.  

To alter borders and erase identities without consent is not merely unjust—it is an affront to Nigeria’s commitment to unity in diversity. The Itsekiri will resist any attempt to diminish our heritage or political voice.  

Conclusion

This is not a plea for sympathy but a demand for justice. The Ijaw, beneficiaries of decades of Itsekiri magnanimity, must not mistake cooperation for capitulation. INEC, as an impartial arbiter, has a duty to correct this imbalance. Let delineation reflect truth, not territorial greed.  

Signed:

Allison Eyewumi 

Notable Itsekiri Youth Leader  

Former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) and Immediate Past Supervisory Councillor for Education