Community leaders in Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri south-west LGA of Delta state, have called on Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to address alleged marginalisation in the recent ward delineation exercise in the area.
In a statement signed by Clement Tekedor, Samson Kusimi, and Johnbull Aniyanghan on Wednesday, the community accused INEC of shortchanging Ogbe-Ijoh, an Ijaw oil-producing community, in the allocation of electoral wards, despite the area’s significant population and landmass.
According to the leaders, Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom accounts for about 40 percent of Warri south-west’s population and localities, with 116 settlements out of 290 recorded by the National Population Commission (NPC) in 2023.
The community leaders said despite this, INEC’s interim report released on April 4, 2025, allocated only two out of nineteen electoral wards to Ogbe-Ijoh, while Gbaramatu kingdom received nine wards and Itsekiri communities five.
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The leaders questioned the basis of INEC’s allocation, challenging claims that Gbaramatu is five times larger or more populated than Ogbe-Ijoh, or that Itsekiri communities are three times bigger.
The leaders accused some INEC officials of collaborating with political actors to marginalise Ogbe-Ijoh and suppress its political influence.
They said the commission should allocate eight wards to Ogbe-Ijoh in line with the electoral act 2022 and INEC’s own guidelines.
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“We reject this act of wickedness and shall use every means at our disposal to fight for justice,” the statement reads, warning that continued “injustice” could lead to the shutdown of oil and gas facilities in their communities.
“We are aware that these powerful officers of INEC are working with some political stakeholders in Warri south-west local government area.
“The purpose is to politically decimate and dominate the Ogbe-Ijoh people. We reject this act of wickedness and we shall use every means at our disposal to fight for justice.
“The Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and its oil-producing communities WILL NOT and WILL NEVER accept this injustice.
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“We shall be forced to take our destiny into our hands and cannot guarantee the further flow of oil and gas from our communities, if the injustice against us is not addressed. We will shut down oil and gas facilities in our communities, if this grave injustice against us is not addressed by INEC.”
The leaders also threatened to disrupt oil and gas operations if INEC fails to address their complaints.
