Just in: Niger Delta youth call for suspension of Warri ward delineation

DDM News

A coalition of youth leaders from the Niger Delta has called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing ward delineation exercise in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the group, under the banner of the Isoko Political Youth Leaders of Thought, issued a strong warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging it to halt the process to avoid further stoking ethnic tensions.

According to the coalition, the current delineation exercise in Warri, part of the Delta South senatorial district, is already generating serious friction among the region’s three major ethnic groups: the Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw.

They noted that unless the exercise is immediately suspended, the region could witness widespread unrest, including possible shutdowns of critical oil facilities.

The youth leaders emphasized that the Niger Delta is a delicate geopolitical zone where ethnic balance and territorial sensitivity must be carefully managed to preserve peace and economic stability.

They accused INEC of failing to conduct proper consultations with local stakeholders, warning that any unilateral adjustments to ward boundaries could be interpreted as an attempt to favor one group over the others.

In their statement, the group appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene without delay and compel INEC to suspend the process pending a broad-based stakeholder engagement.

They argued that national peace, economic security, and inter-ethnic harmony in the oil-rich region should not be jeopardized by a flawed and rushed delineation scheme.

The coalition expressed fears that if the situation escalates, militant groups and local agitators might exploit the tension to launch reprisals or disrupt oil operations in the area.

They also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community elders across Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw lands to resist any attempt to divide their people for political gain.

The Isoko Political Youth Leaders of Thought concluded by warning that if their appeal goes unheeded, the Niger Delta might be plunged into avoidable crisis, threatening both national revenue and regional security.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook