Urhobo leaders in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have formally protested their exclusion from a scheduled meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, concerning the controversial delineation exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a petition letter dated May 15, 2025, signed by Chief Westham Adehor and Hon. Mark Ikputi, the Urhobo representatives expressed dismay over their omission from the crucial meeting scheduled for Monday, which aims to address the contentious INEC delineation in Warri South.

"We, the undersigned Urhobos of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, write to protest our exclusion from the scheduled meeting with the National Security Adviser on the contentious INEC delineation exercise," the letter stated.

The Urhobo leaders emphasized that they have consistently represented their community in previous INEC-invited meetings regarding the delineation process. They further claimed that INEC's report did not accurately reflect the situation in the Urhobo axis, particularly asserting that the Ijaws are not part of Warri South Local Government Area but belong to the Agbarha areas.

According to the petitioners, they began experiencing exclusion from relevant meetings following their press conference on May 2, 2025, which highlighted concerns about the delineation of wards and polling units in Warri South.

"We chose to be granted an audience to be part of this meeting for proper representation of our people," the Urhobo leaders stated in their appeal.

The controversy surrounding INEC's delineation exercise in Warri South has raised tensions among various ethnic groups in the region, with concerns about fair representation and accurate boundary demarcations becoming increasingly prominent.

This development comes as INEC continues its preparations for upcoming elections, with the Commission's Chairman recently assuring Nigerians to expect electoral reforms before the 2027 general elections.