While the INEC proposal may not be perfect, the work is significant, reckons ONOAWARIE EDEVBIE
The various reactions to the Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s recent proposal for the delineation of electoral wards in the Warri Federal Constituency, could be seen as clear indications of tensions and potential for conflict in the area. The Federal Constituency involved comprises Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West local government Areas (LGA) or Councils. Only the Ijaw communities in the electoral district seem to have accepted INEC’s proposal. The Itsekiri consider the proposal unfair, decrying that it fails to reflect the population and voter strength of the various ethnic groups in the area. The Urhobo reject it on grounds that the exercise does not reflect their numerical strength in the region, particularly in Warri South where they claim they command an overwhelming majority in population. The contention has also stirred up once again, the insidious contest for group legitimacy and entitlement, often pushed through age-old competitive claims of which one of the ethnic groups: the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo, first settled in the area now known as Warri.