Over 200 protesters, yesterday, barricaded the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the allocation of only two out of the 19 registration areas proposed for the Warri South-West Local Council of Delta State.

On their placards were, “Ogbe-Ijor has the huge population in Warri South-West,” “INEC should work with 2023 NPC report,” “Ogbe-Ijor Kingdom rejects two wards,” among others. The protesters called on the Chairman of the Commission to address the deliberate injustice against the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom Youth Council, Warri, Nathaniel Oromoni, alleged that the act of suppression has been tele-guided by some political stakeholders in the Warri South-West Council, acting through the National Commissioner representing South-East, Dr Kenneth Ukeagu.

Oromoni said: “Consequent upon the release of the field report on the fresh delineation on April 4, 2025, the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom wrote letters, dated April 5, 2025 and April 21, 2025, in addition to other evidence to draw the attention of the Commission to the injustice against the Kingdom in allocating only two out of the 19 registration areas proposed for the Warri South-West Council, despite having the highest population of about 40 per cent out of the total population in the Warri South-West Local, landmass and communities by available records of the National Population Commission (NPC).

“The Ogbe-Ijoh area is the largest in Warri South-West Council, starting from the Ogbe-Ijoh main town, headquarters of Warri South-West, to the Forcados River, having a boundary with Burutu Town and on the Escravos River sharing boundary with Gbaramatu Kingdom and playing host to several oil and gas operations, such as the Ajuju Oil field, Egwa 11, Odidi 1 and Odidi 11 Flow Stations and the Ugbanu Oil field with more than 100 existing communities.

“However, all efforts to resolve the injustice have been frustrated by highly placed officials of the Commission led by National Commissioner, Dr Kenneth Ukeagu, who orchestrated the deliberate suppression of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom in the allocation of registration areas in the proposal submitted to stakeholders on April 4, 2025.”

In a protest letter to the INEC Chairman, signed by Denbo-Denbofa of Ijaw Focal Person, Lucky Oromoni, Samson Oyimi, Mrs Christiana Seibribo and Michael Oweikpodor, the kingdom vowed to resist any deliberate oppression against it.