A prominent community figure in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, has appealed for calm in the face of the ongoing crisis triggered by the Supreme Court’s order for the delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency. His plea comes after a protest by Ijaw women on June 8 led to the shutdown of 13 flow stations in the Gbaramatu Kingdom.
In a statement released to journalists in Warri, Ekpemupolo emphasized the Ijaw people’s historic commitment to peace, urging that this legacy not be tarnished by the current political turmoil. He warned against allowing the situation, which stems from INEC’s failure to complete ward delineation in the constituency, to escalate into violence.
Ekpemupolo called for an urgent meeting of community leaders to chart a path forward and stressed the need for INEC to act decisively to restore tranquility. He appealed to all ethnic groups in Warri—Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo—to exercise patience and await INEC’s compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The indigenous Ijaw women have vowed to occupy the oil facilities until INEC implements the court’s judgment on the creation of wards and polling units, raising tensions in the oil-rich region.