The Itsekiri Nation has accused some Ijaw and Urhobo groups of misrepresenting the outcome of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the ongoing controversy surrounding the delineation of electoral wards and constituencies in the Warri Federal Constituency.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Sir A.S. Mene, the ethnic nationality expressed concern over what it described as “misleading interpretations” of discussions held at the Presidential Villa on June 11, 2026.
The statement said recent newspaper advertorials and public comments by certain Ijaw and Urhobo groups failed to accurately reflect the spirit and resolutions reached during the President’s engagement with stakeholders from the three ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency.
According to the Itsekiri Nation, President Tinubu convened the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups as well as Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to seek a peaceful and lasting resolution to issues arising from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s ward delineation exercise.
The group stated that throughout the discussions, the President stressed the need for peace, dialogue, mutual respect and coexistence among all ethnic nationalities in the area.
It rejected claims suggesting that Tinubu made pronouncements altering the judicially recognised status of any local government area in Warri.
“Contrary to certain public claims, the President did not make any pronouncement altering the judicially recognised status of any local government area. Rather, discussions centred on practical pathways towards peaceful implementation of lawful decisions and the management of concerns raised by stakeholders,” the statement said.
The Itsekiri Nation explained that discussions on Warri South Local Government Area focused on the nomenclature of certain wards, while deliberations on Warri South-West centred on representation, inclusiveness and mechanisms for sustaining peace among the constituent ethnic groups.
It further disclosed that the President directed representatives of the affected ethnic nationalities to continue engagements under the supervision of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to identify areas of consensus and develop proposals capable of guaranteeing long-term stability in the area.
Following the directive, representatives of the Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic nationalities reportedly met on June 12 at the Office of the National Security Adviser, with Ribadu and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, in attendance.
The statement noted that discussions at the meeting centred on proposals relating to representation and power-sharing arrangements within the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II, adding that consultations were still ongoing and subject to constitutional and legal processes.
The Itsekiri Nation maintained that Tinubu repeatedly urged all parties to embrace dialogue and consensus while warning against actions capable of undermining peace in the region.
“The President stressed the importance of cooperation among stakeholders and the need to avoid inflammatory narratives capable of heightening tensions in the area,” the statement added.
The group consequently rejected what it termed attempts by any party to portray ongoing discussions as settled outcomes of the Presidential intervention.
“Such representations neither advance peace nor reflect the spirit in which the engagements were convened,” it stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful dialogue, respect for the rule of law and constructive engagement, the Itsekiri Nation urged all stakeholders to avoid misinformation and support ongoing efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, unity and development within the Warri Federal Constituency.
