•The protesters
Tension heightened in parts of Warri Federal Constituency yesterday as indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo communities shut down operations at major oil facilities.
Oil facilities shut down includes Kenyagbene (Abiteye) Flow Station, Otunana, Jones Creek Flow Station, Odidi 1 & 2, Batan, Ogbanabou, Egwuatu 1 & 2, Makaraba, Olero and Opuekaba Flow stations shut down about 400,000 bpd production, reports Daily Independent.
The protesters demand is the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court ordered Warri Federal Constituency delineation report released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The protesters, comprising women, youths and community leaders from several riverine communities, carried placards with inscriptions such as “INEC: Implement Warri Delineation Report,” “Court Ordered Judgment on Wards and Polling Units Delineation,” and “No Implementation, No Production.”
Addressing journalists at the Kenyagbene (Abiteye) Flow Station, community leader, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Marian Ebike A. Ogoba said the protest was aimed at compelling INEC to implement the Supreme Court judgment and the delineation report presented to stakeholders in Asaba on May 20, 2026.
According to Mrs. Ogoba, “the reason we are here is because of the delineation exercise carried out by INEC following the Supreme Court judgment. We are the owners of these communities producing the oil and gas that sustain Nigeria’s economy, yet we continue to suffer marginalisation.
“We are not fighting anybody. We are only demanding our rights. We want INEC to implement what the Supreme Court has ordered. If our rights are not given to us, this facility will remain shut down. Nothing will happen here until INEC does the right thing”.
Also speaking, an opinion leader, Madam Fanty Goodness Owotorufa, said the communities remained peaceful but were determined to ensure the implementation of the judgment.
Madam Owoturufa added, “the Supreme Court has already given its verdict on the delineation of Wards. What remains is implementation. That is why we are here. We are peace-loving people, but we want INEC to obey the judgment of the Supreme Court.
“The people gathered here today are from these communities. We are not causing trouble. We only want the implementation of the delineation report already approved and announced”.
Also speaking, the immediate past secretary and opinion leader from Benikrukru Community, Dr. Paul Boyitie, accused INEC of delaying the implementation of a process it had already concluded.
According to him, the Supreme Court in 2022 ordered a fresh delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, which was eventually carried out by INEC and the final report presented to stakeholders in Asaba on May 20 this year.
Dr. Boyitie added, “the report clearly identified the Wards occupied by Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities. Stakeholders were invited, objections were entertained, and the final report was presented.
“The question is: why is INEC refusing to implement its own report? We are the majority in these areas and we will not allow any minority group to determine our political future.
“We want to participate fully in the 2027 general elections under the approved delineation structure. Until INEC implements the report, we are not leaving. We have the capacity to shut down operations in our territories because we cannot continue to contribute resources to the federation and still be politically marginalised”.
At the Otunana Flow Station, protesters maintained a similar position, insisting that oil production would remain halted until the delineation report is implemented.
Speaking on behalf of Kokodiagbene Community, Madam Edith Odafe said the protest was solely about securing implementation of the approved Wards and State Constituencies announced by INEC.
“We came here because of the implementation of the Wards and State Constituencies approved and presented to us by INEC on May 20, 2026.
“The exercise was conducted peacefully and the result was presented to stakeholders. What we are asking for now is implementation. We have shut down this flow station and we will continue until our demands are met”.
Also speaking, a community representative from Krukrudagbene, Mrs. Gladys Kele, said the people were only demanding what rightfully belonged to them.
Mrs. Kele added, “we don’t want trouble. We don’t want any fight. We are gathered here because the wards allocated to us should be implemented. Nobody should take what belongs to us and nobody should tamper with our rights.
We will remain here until what belongs to us is given to us”.
The protesters insisted that the implementation of the Warri Federal Constituency Delineation Report was crucial to ensuring fair political representation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The demonstration was peaceful as of the time of filing this report, although protesters vowed to sustain the shutdown of oil facilities until INEC implements the delineation report announced in Asaba.
