Delta: Itsekiris shut down Shell flow station over INEC ward delineation crisis

Operations at the Ogidigben Flow Station in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State were brought to a halt on Wednesday as aggrieved Itsekiri protesters from the Ugborodo community staged a major demonstration against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of contempt of court and deliberate marginalisation in the recent ward delineation exercise.

The protest, which paralysed activities at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facility, drew participants from across Warri Kingdom, including community leaders and youth groups who voiced concerns over what they described as “an orchestrated plot to politically annihilate the Itsekiri Nation.”

In a bold display of determination, hundreds of protesters transformed the entrance of the Shell facility into a defiant encampment—erecting massive canopies on both flanks, blaring resistance anthems from a disc jockey, slaughtering cows, and preparing communal meals—signalling they were not just protesting, but settling in for a siege.

Speaking to journalists at the protest site, Mr Raymond Pira, a former ward councillor and deputy leader of the legislative house in Warri South, accused INEC of violating a court order that restrained it from proceeding with the controversial delineation.

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“We are protesting INEC’s unlawful behaviour and contempt of court. This injustice is not just against Ugborodo, but against the entire Itsekiri and Warri Kingdom,” Mr Pira said.

“INEC came out with a delineation plan despite a subsisting court order—even after swearing an affidavit that it would not proceed.

“It’s clear that some people believe the Itsekiri can be treated with disdain simply because we don’t throw around dollars.”

He went on to highlight historical grievances, including the National Boundary Commission’s alleged removal of several Itsekiri communities from coastal buffer zones, thereby denying them access to offshore benefits.

“We were unlawfully excluded while communities farther inland like Oporoza and Ogbududu were included. This was done under the last administration with the full knowledge of the then Deputy Governor, an Ijaw man,” he stated.

At the heart of the current protest are the delineation figures presented by INEC, which sparked outrage among the Itsekiris, who claim that their representation has been unjustly reduced across Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas.

“In Warri North, where Itsekiris and Ijaws cohabit, we had six wards while the Ijaws had four. Today, Ijaw wards have increased to 10, while ours only rose to eight,” Mr Pira explained.

“In Warri South, our eight wards have been kept the same, but Urhobos have been increased to nine, and Ijaws—who historically have no presence there—have been allocated three new wards in areas that are clearly Itsekiri strongholds like Miller, McCaiver, and Main Market.”

He added, “Even our monarch’s residence is now said to fall under an Ijaw ward. It’s an outrageous manipulation. INEC is claiming the Itsekiris are not reproducing and are now fewer in number, while others have multiplied miraculously. That’s absurd.”

Another protester, Mr Victor Laju Udonju, the National Vice Chairman of the Ugborodo Community, underscored the political implications of the alleged gerrymandering.

“With the new arrangement, Itsekiris across the three Warri councils cannot produce a local government chairman, a House of Assembly member, or even a House of Representatives member. This is a strategic attempt to eliminate our political relevance,” Udonju stated.

He also gave a summary of what transpired during a meeting held at the protest venue involving representatives of Ugborodo, Shell, and the Nigerian Army to outline their demands.

“We have made it clear: we are not leaving here until the Federal Government intervenes. We are peace-loving people, but we will not accept this injustice.

“If delineation must be done, it must follow due process and be in accordance with the law,” he asserted.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Agbassa people are tenants to Itsekiri people, so they can’t have wards,” “INEC, return our electoral ward,” “INEC, stop this broad-day marginalisation,” and “The Itsekiri are the majority in the three Warris,” among others.

They, therefore, called for the immediate suspension of the delineation exercise and urged the Federal Government to engage all stakeholders to resolve the matter before it snowballs into a major crisis.

As of press time, operations at the Shell facility remained suspended, and security presence had intensified around the protest zone. No official response has yet been issued by INEC or the Delta State Government.