Warri Delineation Exercise: MOSIEND Urges INEC to Ensure Fairness, We Cannot Afford to Compromise Our Population,

MOSIEND Seeks INEC's Impartiality in Warri Delineation Exercise, Stressing the Need to Preserve Population Figures.

By EgbemaVoice,

The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Western Zone has expressed concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) handling of the delineation exercise in the three Warri Local Government Areas—Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West. MOSIEND has accused INEC of depriving the Ijaw population in Warri North of fair representation, alleging that INEC is engaging in a secretive collaboration with their Itsekiri neighbors, potentially to the detriment of the Ijaw people.

According to Comrade Graham Abulu, the chairman of the MOSIEND Western Zone has strongly criticized INEC for its role in undermining the existing peace in the Warri constituencies. He asserts that the Ijaw people, particularly in Egbema Kingdom, were cheated, deprived, and disfranchised in the previous delineation exercises for Warri’s three local government areas. According to Abulu, this injustice led to a legal battle headed by Hon George U.Timinimi and co for which the Ijaw community emerged victorious at the apex court, The apex court mandated a fresh delineation exercise for the Warri federal constituency.

Abulu’s charges against INEC are rooted in a demand for fair representation, arguing that the previous delineation failed to reflect the true population and communal distribution in Warri, particularly as it's affect the Egbema Ijaws. This victory at the apex court is significant as it reopens discussions about equitable resource allocation and political representation for ethnic groups within the region.

He said, these concerns likely stem from long-standing ethnic and political tensions in the region, as both Ijaw and Itsekiri communities have historically vied for political influence and resources. Delineation exercises are crucial as they determine the boundaries for electoral wards and constituencies, which can significantly impact proper representation and access to development opportunities.

MOSIEND accusations suggest that the group believes INEC’s actions might favor the Itsekiri over the Ijaw, which could lead to further marginalization of the Ijaw community in terms of political representation. This issue highlights the broader struggle for ethnic balance and fairness in governance within the Niger Delta region.

The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), in Western Zone, chairman Abulu has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately marginalizing the Egbema Ijaw population in Warri North during the recently concluded ward and polling unit delineation exercise. According to MOSIEND INEC’s actions seem to favored to the less-populated Itsekiri communities by disproportionately allocating electoral wards and polling units.

MOSIEND argues that the Egbema Ijaw population, which is claim to be the largest in Warri North and consists of more numerous communities compared to the Itsekiris, was unfairly treated. The group contends that this unequal distribution of electoral units undermines the political influence of the Ijaw people and does not reflect the demographic realities of the area. This accusation reflects the longstanding ethnic tensions between the Ijaw and Itsekiri communities, where political representation and resource allocation are often points of contention.

By raising these concerns, MOSIEN is likely calling for a review of the delineation process to ensure fairness and equitable representation of the Ijaw people in Warri North. Such disputes could escalate if not addressed, as they are tied to broader issues of ethnic identity and governance in the Niger Delta.

Finally, *Comrade Graham Abulu* pointing out that the just concluded ward and polling units delineation exercise for the three Warri local government areas was met a stive opposition from the Itsekiri people. 

He stressing further that, the Itsekiri were against the exercise because, despite having a smaller population, they have been benefiting from a disproportionate number of wards and polling units in the three Warri local Government Area.

 This could indicate tensions over political representation and the distribution of electoral resources between the Izon and Itsekiri communities especially in Warri north LGA. Stated,