Community Leader Urges Peaceful Resolution of Warri South‑West Delineation Dispute by INEC

A community leader in Warri South-West local government, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, has urged a peaceful resolution to the Supreme Court‑ordered delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency.

His appeal comes after 13 flow stations were shut down by protesting Ijaw women in Gbaramatu Kingdom on 8 June.

Ekpemupolo made the statement to journalists in Warri.

He said, “The Ijaw nation has from time immemorial been known for its peaceful ways and cannot deviate from its history. The current political situation arising from the failure of INEC to complete the delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency and mass action must not be allowed to be hijacked or degenerate into violence of any sort.”

“I am calling for calm, no matter the situation. I am also calling for a meeting of community leaders to meet immediately to enable us to devise a way forward.”

According to him, “We must all join hands in seeking a peaceful resolution to this impasse. INEC must determine to do the right thing and restore the peace in Warri and environs. We call on the people of Warri (whether Ijaw, Itsekiri or Urhobo) to be calm and wait patiently for INEC to do the right thing.”

Indigenous Ijaw women staged a protest on Monday, shutting down the flow stations operated by an oil company in the Gbaramatu enclave.

They vowed to remain at the facility until the Independent National Electoral Commission implements the Supreme Court judgment on the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.