By Jose Oby 
Warri, Delta State – May 17, 2025
A massive crowd of Itsekiri youths staged a peaceful protest in Warri on Saturday, voicing strong opposition to a recent ward delineation report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which they claim is fraudulent and politically skewed.
The demonstration, which gained widespread attention across the city, began at the historic Warri Club in the GRA area of Okere Community. Protesters marched through key parts of the city—including Miller Waterside by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ugbuwangwe, and finally gathered at Angle Park—calling for the immediate review of the report.
Carrying placards with messages like “INEC Stop the Disenfranchisement,” “Our Wards, Our Voice,” and “Justice for Itsekiri People,” the demonstrators condemned the report, alleging it was designed to marginalize the Itsekiri ethnic group through manipulated boundary adjustments.
Spokespersons from various Itsekiri youth organizations described the INEC report as a distortion of demographic realities and an affront to traditional Itsekiri structures. They accused unnamed political actors of colluding with INEC officials to redraw ward boundaries in favor of other groups, thereby reducing the Itsekiri people’s political influence.
“We’re here because silence is no longer an option,” one protest leader declared at Angle Park. “This delineation report is not just unjust—it’s an attack on our identity, our relevance, and our future as a people.”
The protest remained peaceful throughout, with security personnel on ground to maintain order and ensure the demonstrators were unharmed.
Community leaders and other stakeholders have since joined the call, urging INEC to revisit the ward delineation process in Warri and ensure it reflects fairness, constitutional compliance, and respect for the indigenous population.
The protest highlights the growing concern among the Itsekiri about their political representation and reinforces ongoing demands for equity and justice within Nigeria’s democratic system.