WARRI, Delta State — The legislative arm of the Warri South Local Government Area has passed a resolution declaring that there are no Ijaw aboriginal communities within the local government area.
The resolution was adopted during an open plenary session convened to address concerns arising from the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ward delineation exercise in the Warri axis.
The motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tuoyo Ebigbeyi, seconded by Hon. Eghere Dumetotor, and passed by a vote of 18 lawmakers in favour and one against.
According to the council, the resolution followed deliberations on issues relating to the ward delineation process and its implications for communities within the local government.
During the plenary, representatives of protesting Itsekiri and Urhobo youth groups addressed the lawmakers, expressing concerns over what they described as attempts to classify Ijaw communities as aboriginal communities in Warri South as part of the ongoing delineation exercise.
The lawmakers subsequently adopted the resolution after considering the motion presented before the House.
The development comes amid growing debates surrounding INEC’s ward delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency, which has attracted reactions from various stakeholders.
The resolution is expected to influence discussions on political representation and community relations in Warri South Local Government Area, an area with a long history of disputes involving the Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw ethnic groups.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no immediate response from Ijaw representatives or the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding the resolution passed by the Warri South Legislative Council.
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