Amid rising ethnic tensions in Delta State, a prominent youth group from the Niger Delta has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately suspend its ongoing ward delineation exercise in the Warri area of the Delta South Senatorial District.
The group, under the umbrella of Isoko Political Youth Leaders of Thought, issued the appeal on Monday during a press briefing held in Asaba, citing growing unrest and the risk of regional instability.
Daniel Omoraro, Chairman of the group, warned that the ongoing delineation is threatening the long-standing peace between the three major ethnic groups in the area—Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo—and may escalate into full-blown conflict if not halted.
“Today, we are here to draw the attention of the Nigerian public, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Presidency, and the Office of the National Security Adviser to recent developments in Warri Metropolis,” Omoraro stated.
He noted that the delineation exercise, which is expected to restructure electoral wards in the area, has sparked protests, shutdowns of oil installations, and a growing sense of exclusion among ethnic communities.
The Warri Metropolis, a strategic economic zone in the Niger Delta and home to the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and a smaller Urhobo population, falls within the broader Delta South Senatorial District. This district also includes the Isoko ethnic group, which the youth leaders say is now politically endangered by the outcome of the ongoing delineation.
“We view the current political manoeuvrings as an attempt to tilt the balance of power in favour of a particular ethnic group,” Omoraro explained. “This could have far-reaching consequences not only for the Itsekiri but also for the Isoko people, especially as the 2031 gubernatorial election cycle draws near.”
He alleged that the exercise is part of a wider strategy to diminish the political influence of the Itsekiri bloc, thereby isolating them from critical regional decision-making processes. Omoraro emphasized that this shift could jeopardize Isoko’s chances of producing a future governor once the rotation of the state’s leadership returns to the Delta South zone.
The group expressed concern over the increasing political provocations and rising ethnic tensions, particularly in flashpoints within and around Warri.
“There is a need for immediate intervention to restore equity, fairness, and inclusion,” the group said. “We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to step in and closely monitor the political developments in Delta South and the larger Niger Delta region.”
The youth leaders urged President Tinubu to suspend the INEC delineation process, which they believe risks destroying the delicate political balance among the ethnic groups in the area.
They also stressed the potential impact on national security, warning that unresolved grievances in the region could trigger further shutdowns of vital oil infrastructure and disrupt the country’s fragile peace in the Niger Delta.
As of press time, INEC has not issued an official response to the calls for suspension, but stakeholders are watching closely as the situation develops.
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