Pessu Family to INEC: Ereku/Ogisi Family, Ijaws hiding under the guise of ward creation to claim lands

Pessu Family of Warri, has accused the Ereku/Ogisi Family and the Ijaws of trying to hide under the guise of renaming or creating new Ward to lay claim to lands that do not belong to them, saying the area called Odion in Warri, is completely different and a distance from Pessu Town.

The family in a letter addressed to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, through their Solicitors; A.J Oshiokpelua & Co, warned that any attempt to mislead and deceive INEC “to commit a grave error by either renaming the Pessu Ward to another family or creating another Ward from Pessu lands for the benefit of the ljaw, will definitely amount to injustice, which is likely to cause heavy unrest, anarchy and commotion and could lead to destruction of lives and properties.”

In the Correspondence dated July 31, 2025, Solicitors to the Pessu Family, noted inter-alia: “ Our Client, has brought to our attention a letter dated 22 April 2025 written by the Law Firm of Ikhide Ehighelua & Co. on behalf the Ereku/Ogisi Family of Odion Town Warri to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) titled "CASE OF EREKU/OGISI FAMILY OF ODION TOWN IN WARRI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENTAREA TO THE ELECTORAL WARDS/UNITS CREDITED TO THE IJAWS IN WARRI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE

“Our client has also been reliably informed of the clandestine moves by some people, especially the Ijaws to lure Your Commission to create another Ward from the existing boundaries of the present Pessu Ward to satisfy the ljaws in Warm South Local Government Area.

“In the letter of the Ereku/Ogisi Family to this Honourable Commission, the said Ereku/Ogisi Family is asking this Honourable Commission to rename several Wards in Warri to reflect their name, inclusive of PESSU WARD, which they are asking should be renamed as EREKU WARD 1 on the ground that they are the owner of these areas inclusive of Pessu Town.

“Our Client, has instructed us to debunk the said allegation and formally inform and notify you Sir that the said letter of the Ereku/Ogisi Family is loaded with falsehood and distorted facts.

“As regards the clandestine moves to lure INEC to create another Ward for the Ijaw people from the Pessu Ward, our Client wish to state that the area that made up Pessu Ward belonged exclusively to the Pessu Family of Warri from time immemorial to the knowledge of both the ljaws and the Ereku/Ogisi Family of Warri and there is nothing to create from any land or boundary in Pessu. Town or Ward for the benefit of the Ijaws in Warri South Local Government Area.

“We wish to state that any attempt to mislead and deceive this Honourable Commission to commit a grave error by either renaming the Pessu Ward to another family or creating another Ward from Pessu lands for the benefit of the ljaw, will definitely amount to injustice which is likely to cause heavy unrest, anarchy and commotion and could lead to destruction of lives and properties.

“Our Client has instructed us to make the Honourable Commission know that Pessu Town was founded by Chief Pessu Ebiowa centuries ago, before the advent of the British Colonial Government in Nigeria (which it is not in dispute). It is on record that when the British Consul General Sir Macdonald visited Warri in 1891, Chief Pessu Ebiowa of Pessu Town and Chief Ogbe of Ugbuwangue, were amongst the Itsekiri Chiefs he met.

“The Area comprises present day Pessu Town, Pessu Waterside, Pessu Lane, Pessu Road, Pessu Market, Pessu Market Road, Pessu Layout (Ikpara) and Pessu Garage to mention a few.

“Pessu Town has everything that makes up a community, which is required to create a Ward. It has population, its own market with lock up stores, popularly called Pessu Market, it has its waterside for water transportation and other commercial activities called Pessu Waterside, it has its own Secretariat and Town Square called Pessu Town Square and there is Pessu Town Sawmill Area 1 and Pessu Town Sawmill Area 2 respectively.

“All these lands and areas are part of Pessu Ward and they are all owned by the Pessu Family who have exercised possessory and ownership rights over same from time immemorial, without any encumbrance from anybody inclusive the Ereku/Ogisi Family and the Ijaws of Warri

“We wish to state with all emphasis that the Pessu Family of Warri and Pessu Town as well as Pessu Ward is as old as Warri itself. Pessu Ward has been in existence from time immemorial when governance and delineation of Wards came into existence in Warri to cover areas owned by the Pessu Family of Warri. The Ward is named after Pessu Town, which has been in existence before 1891.

“Pessu Ward boundary stretches from Pessu Industrial Layout, behind the Pessu Market to Pessu Town Hall, the boundary further stretches to the Pessu Town Sawmill Area 1 and Pessu Town Sawmill Area 2, then to NBTC and further stretches to the Market Road, Bridge and further stretches to the Stream that runs behind the Roman Catholic Church, Warri

“Pessu Ward was already in existence in the old and/or defunct Warri Local Government Area when the whole of Warri was one Local Government Area. When the Local Government was divided into Warri South and Warri North, Pessu Ward remained as a Ward under the Warri South Local Government Area. Also, when the Local Government was further divided into Wari South, Warri North and Warri South-West, Pessu Ward was still retained as a Ward under Warri South Local Government Area till date.

“We wish to state with all emphasis that the Ereku/Ogisi Family (on the one hand) and the Ijaws (on the other hand) are only trying to use this Honourable Commission (INEC) under the guise of renaming or creating new Ward to lay claim to lands that does not belong to them.

“There is no treaty entered between the Ereku/Ogisi Family and the British Colonial Government in any manner whatsoever as falsely stated in their letter that gave them any parcel of land belonging to the Pessu Family.

“There is no where the ljaws of Warri can claim to have any portion of land in Pessu Town without the same being leased to them by the Pessu Family eg. The late ljaw Chief Eselemo who is a tenant to the Pessu family in the portion of land he owns in Pessu Island.

“The Ereku/Ogisi Family have been in Warri all these years as stated by them as well as the Ijaws. Pessu Ward and its aforesaid boundaries have been in existence all these donkey years to their knowledge without any challenge or objection whatsoever.

“The question is, why are they just waking up now to ask for renaming or creation of new electoral Ward from Pessu Ward, where were they when the Pessu Family was occupying, building, granting leases and exercising ownership and possessory rights over Pessu Lands and Town, which are all built up areas now, where were they when Electoral Wards were being created and Pessu Ward was created to cater for the electoral votes of the teeming population in Pessu Town. The answer is simple, they know that they are not the owners of any Town called Pessu Town.

“We wish to bring to the Commission's attention that the area where the Ereku/Ogisi Family are residing in Warri, which is called Odion area is completely different and a distance from Pessu Town. Both they and the ljaws do not have any stake or presence in Pessu Town.

“We urge your Commission not to be deceived and used by this disgruntled people to achieve their unfounded claim to grab land, through the back door that does not belong to them. INEC is not Court.

“If they feel strongly about ownership of Pessu Town, they should not hide under renaming of Wards or creation of Wards, INEC is not the proper place to make their case, they should approach the regular Courts to do that which our client is prepare and ever ready to meet them if they choose to embark on such a suicidal journey.

“On the whole, we urge your Commission not to accept any invitation to cause injustice and rob our peace loving and law-abiding Client of their traditional, historical and constitution right as to do otherwise, the tension and problem it will cause cannot be imagined or experience or mitigated.

“We urge Your Commission to reject the said letter of 22 April 2025 of the Ereku/Ogisi Family especially as it relates to Pessu Ward in the interest of peace, justice, equity and fairness.

“We further urge Your Commission not to create another Ward under any guise from Pessu Town or land or from the existing boundaries that make up Pessu Ward in any manner whatsoever for the benefit of another family or tribe in the interest of peace and harmony Pessu Town is already enjoying.

“God Bless INEC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

Jonathan A. Oshiokpelua Esq

FOR A.J Oshiokpelua & Co

CC

The National Security Advisor (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Warri Office.”

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