The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) has issued a stern warning that elections will not be held in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State in 2027 if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to complete the delineation exercise and conduct fresh registration of Ijaws and Urhobos in the constituency.
IPDI National President, Comrade Austin Ozobo, delivered this warning during an interview with BenriNews in Warri. "INEC should know there would be no election in Warri Federal Constituency if it fails to complete the delineation exercise and conduct fresh registration of the Ijaws and Urhobos in the constituency," Ozobo stated emphatically.
The group has advised Ijaws and Urhobos in Warri to maintain pressure on INEC to complete the Warri delineation exercise before the 2027 election cycle begins. This delineation is seen as crucial for proper representation of these ethnic groups within the constituency.
Call for Peace Amid Tensions
Despite the growing tensions, Ozobo appealed for calm among the Ijaw and Urhobo communities. "Despite the provocation, I will continue to appeal to the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri to continue to exercise maturity and calmness," he said.
The IPDI leader also addressed what he described as attempts by the Itsekiri ethnic group to halt the delineation process. "The Itsekiris want to stop the delineation exercise with war, and then seek for roundtable discussion to upturn the process. Itsekiri are clever by half, let us be smart and rebuke every temptation of crisis," Ozobo cautioned.
In a stark warning about potential conflict, he added, "But if paradventure Itsekiri creates another Warri crisis, the Itsekiris will lose heavily beyond the 1997 Warri crisis. If they are wise they should stop inciting their youths to go to another war in Warri."
The delineation exercise in Warri has been a contentious issue, with various ethnic groups in the region having different perspectives on how electoral boundaries should be drawn. The IPDI's stance highlights the significance of this process for political representation in the 2027 general elections.
As tensions continue to simmer in the region, political observers note that INEC's response to these demands will be crucial in determining the peaceful conduct of future elections in Delta State.
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