The legislative arm of Warri South Local Government Area, in Delta State, Nigeria, on Tuesday, 1 July 2026, passed a resolution declaring that there are no Ijaw aboriginal communities within the council area, in a decision that has intensified sensitivities around the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ward delineation exercise.
The resolution was adopted during an open plenary session convened to address rising tensions linked to electoral boundary adjustments in the oil-rich local government area, which has long been marked by complex ethnic relations among the Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw communities.
Also read: APC finalises candidate lists as high-profile politicians lose out ahead of 2027 polls
The motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tuoyo Ebigbeyi, and seconded by Hon. Eghere Dumetotor, before being overwhelmingly approved by lawmakers with a recorded vote of 18 in favour and one against.
The resolution comes amid heightened community agitation over the INEC-led ward delineation process, which has triggered competing claims of historical settlement and political representation across various groups in the area.
During the plenary session, representatives of protesting Itsekiri and Urhobo youths were also given the opportunity to present their concerns, particularly objections to what they described as attempts to classify certain communities as aboriginal Ijaw settlements within Warri South.
The resolution is expected to carry significant political and administrative implications, especially in relation to electoral representation, ward structuring and local governance arrangements under the ongoing INEC exercise.
Warri South has historically remained a sensitive flashpoint for ethnic tensions, with periodic disputes over land ownership, political boundaries and resource control shaping relations among the major ethnic groups in the region.
Community reactions to the latest legislative decision are still emerging, with stakeholders awaiting further clarification on how the resolution will be implemented within the broader framework of the electoral delineation process.
Also read: ASUU Nsukka zone threatens indefinite strike at ESUT over unimplemented 2025 agreement
Observers note that the development may further complicate efforts by electoral authorities to achieve consensus-driven boundary adjustments in the area, as consultations with affected communities continue.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
