Niger Delta youth leaders call on INEC to suspend ward delineation in Delta South, warning it could trigger ethnic unrest and disrupt oil production
A Niger Delta youth group has issued a strong appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately suspend its ongoing ward delineation exercise in Delta South, warning that it could plunge the region into ethnic unrest and disrupt vital oil operations.
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Operating under the aegis of the Isoko Political Youth Leaders of Thought, the group made the call during a press conference held in Asaba.
They raised serious concerns over what they described as a politically motivated exercise that threatens the long-standing ethnic harmony in the Warri area, home to Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo communities.
Chairman of the group, Daniel Omoraro, warned that the delineation process, which has already triggered protests and the shutdown of oil facilities for over two months, could escalate tensions further if not halted immediately.
“Today, we are here to draw the attention of the Nigerian public, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Presidency as well as the office of the National Security Adviser to recent happenings in Warri Metropolis and how it relates to the development of the Niger Delta Region,” Omoraro said.
He stressed that the exercise, if not handled with care, could unravel decades of relative peace in the oil-rich region.
According to him, the political structure in Delta South, built around a delicate balance among the three dominant ethnic groups—Isoko, Itsekiri, and Ijaw—is under threat.
The group alleges that the ongoing ward delineation appears to favour one ethnic bloc over the others in a calculated attempt to gain political dominance ahead of the 2031 governorship race.
They argued that such manipulation could isolate the Itsekiri and marginalise the Isoko in future political equations.
“As a pan-Isoko political group, it came to us as a surprise that there are deliberate efforts by certain individuals to undermine the long-standing ethnic balance among the three founding nationalities of the district,” the group stated.
They warned that this disruption could ultimately damage Isoko’s chances of producing a governor when power is expected to rotate back to Delta South.
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to closely monitor political developments in Delta South and intervene before the situation spirals into violence.
They accused unnamed actors of sowing division for strategic gain and warned that the consequences could extend beyond politics to affect oil production and national security.
The Isoko leaders insisted that only a suspension of the delineation exercise can restore calm and ensure that all ethnic blocs are treated with fairness and inclusion.
“Political provocations and high tensions are already rising in Warri and its surrounding areas.
We urge the Federal Government to act decisively to protect the peace, equity, and political stability of the Niger Delta,” Omoraro concluded.
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The group’s warning adds a fresh layer of urgency to growing concerns around political representation and ethnic balance in one of Nigeria’s most strategic economic regions.