Ijaw, Itsekiri reach power-sharing deal on Warri Federal Constituency II

By Dotun Omisakin

Representatives of the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities in Delta State have reached a power-sharing agreement for the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II.

The agreement aims at resolving tension surrounding the contentious electoral ward delineation exercise in Warri area.

The agreement was sealed on Friday during a high-level meeting held at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja and chaired by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups, alongside senior government officials, including the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.

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The latest development followed an earlier meeting hosted by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on June 11, where representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities from Warri Federal Constituency met to discuss the lingering disagreements over the proposed delineation exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, was also present at the meeting.

Under the terms of the agreement, the House of Representatives seat in the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II will rotate between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups.

The arrangement provides that the Ijaw nationality will occupy the seat for the first two consecutive terms, after which the position will rotate to the Itsekiri nationality for another two terms.

Stakeholders described the deal as a practical framework for promoting political inclusion and ensuring equitable representation among the major ethnic groups in the constituency.

The power-sharing arrangement emerged after President Tinubu directed that two representatives from each of the three ethnic nationalities involved in the dispute meet under the supervision of the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the June 11 engagement and develop a mutually acceptable political framework.

Signatories to the agreement included former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, and Dr. Eric Omare for the Ijaw nationality. The Itsekiri delegation was represented by Sir A.S. Mene and Chief Robinson Ariyo.

The agreement was endorsed on behalf of the Federal Government by Ribadu, while Olorogun Victor Okumagba and Chief Westham Adehor signed as witnesses.

The breakthrough is expected to significantly reduce tensions generated by the proposed ward delineation exercise, which had heightened concerns among communities in the Warri area over political representation and electoral balance.

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