The Warri North Itsekiri Rebirth Forum has officially opposed a proposed ward delineation strategy that suggests splitting wards equally between the Itsekiri and Ijaw populations in the Warri North Local Government Area. Represented by Solomon Mikie and Justice Akoyoma, the group claims the plan ignores actual demographic and electoral statistics.
Data from the 2023 INEC voter register indicates that the Itsekiri possess six wards with 134 polling units and 75,912 voters. In contrast, the Ijaw have four wards with 58 polling units and 34,480 voters. Given that the Itsekiri have over 41,000 more registered voters, the group questions the logic behind assigning an equal number of wards to both groups.
The forum is calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide transparency regarding its methodology and to revise the proposal. Additionally, they have asked the National Assembly to thoroughly review the matter to ensure adherence to democratic principles. The group also distanced itself from unauthorized individuals allegedly negotiating on their behalf without community consent.
Beyond ward issues, the forum raised alarms regarding reports of kidnappings and intimidation in certain communities, allegedly linked to local political disagreements. They are urging federal authorities, including the President and security agencies, to launch an independent investigation into these allegations to prevent further unrest and protect the constitutional rights of the local population.
