Tensions Rise in Delta: IPDI Warns of Election Boycott in Warri Over INEC Delineation Delay

The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) has issued a strong warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that there will be no elections in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State, in 2027 if the commission fails to complete the ongoing delineation exercise and conduct fresh voter registration for Ijaw and Urhobo residents.

Speaking exclusively to DAILY POST in Warri, IPDI National President, Comrade Austin Ozobo, emphasized the urgency of addressing long-standing electoral and demographic imbalances in the constituency.

“INEC should know there would be no election in Warri Federal Constituency if it fails to complete the delineation exercise and carry out a fresh registration of the Ijaws and Urhobos in the area,” Ozobo declared.

The group also called on the Ijaw and Urhobo communities in Warri to maintain pressure on INEC to ensure the delineation process is concluded ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While urging continued calm among his people, Ozobo condemned what he described as attempts by the Itsekiri ethnic group to derail the process through provocation and conflict.

“Despite the provocation, I appeal to the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri to remain mature and peaceful. The Itsekiris are attempting to halt the delineation exercise through threats of violence, only to later push for a roundtable to reverse the process. They are clever by half,” he said.

Ozobo cautioned that any attempt to incite fresh ethnic conflict in Warri could lead to consequences more devastating than those experienced during the 1997 Warri crisis.

“If, by chance, the Itsekiris create another Warri crisis, they will suffer losses far greater than what occurred in 1997. If they are wise, they will stop urging their youths toward conflict,” he added.

The IPDI’s statement highlights the growing ethnic and political tensions surrounding the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, a long-disputed issue tied to questions of fair representation, resource control, and voter enfranchisement in the oil-rich Delta region.