Ahead of a critical meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Urhobo people of Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State have raised a fierce protest over their exclusion from discussions on the contentious Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ward delineation exercise.
In a strongly worded letter dated May 15, 2025, and signed by prominent community leaders Chief Westham Adehor and Honourable Mark Ikpuri, the Urhobos condemned their sidelining from the NSA-led stakeholder meeting slated for May 19.
“We have been the authentic voice of the Urhobo people throughout the INEC stakeholder engagements. Yet, the recent INEC field report distorts the reality on the ground, especially in the Urhobo axis,” the letter stated.
Central to the dispute is INEC’s controversial inclusion of Ijaw communities within Warri South, a move the Urhobos vehemently reject, insisting the delineation infringes on their territorial and political rights.
The letter further highlighted the joint press conference held earlier this month, where Urhobo and Ijaw leaders publicly aired their concerns over the flawed field report and warned of escalating security risks if the delineation is not addressed.
“We urgently call on the NSA to grant us access to the meeting, to ensure our people’s interests are protected and to avert a looming crisis,” the letter demanded.
This exclusion and the underlying boundary dispute threaten to ignite fresh tensions in an already volatile region, putting national security and electoral integrity at risk.
As the clock ticks down to the NSA meeting, all eyes are on the federal government’s response to this urgent call for inclusion and fairness in the electoral process
