Sponsored: Itsekiri Land cannot be annexed

Evil prevails when good people do nothing.

On August 9, 2025, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, publicly explained why the Itsekiri Nation rejects INEC’s proposal for ward delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency. A day later, Micheal Johnny—a known militant and self- proclaimed Ijaw leader in Warri South-West—took to the Vanguard newspaper to defend the fraud and attack Chief Ayiri.

INEC’s Proposal is Illegal and Dangerous

INEC has gone beyond its lawful role. Instead of using the voter register, they:
Fabricated population figures.

Created non-existent communities.
Redrew boundaries in direct violation of Supreme Court judgments affirming Itsekiri ownership of all Warri Federal Constituency lands.

Favoured Ijaw settlers—who are tenants on Itsekiri land—over the Itsekiri aboriginal majority.
This is not just administrative misconduct. It is an act capable of destabilising the Niger Delta, damaging Nigeria’s economy, and pushing millions into further poverty.

Facts of the Current Ward Structure Before the fraudulent proposal

I Warri South-West – Itsekiri: 6 exclusive wards; Ijaw share 4 with Itsekiri.
ii Warri North – Itsekiri: 6 exclusive wards; Ijaw share 4 with Itsekiri.
iii WarriSouth–Itsekiri:8exclusivewards;Urhoboshare2withItsekiri.

INEC’s proposal flips reality on its head:
Warri South-West Ijaw 14 wards, Itsekiri 5. Warri South Urhobo 9 wards, Itsekiri 8. Warri North Ijaw 9 wards, Itsekiri 8.
There is no legal, demographic, or mathematical basis for this manipulation.

Blatant Ethnic Bias
The commissioner in charge of this delineation, Prof. Roda Gumus, is an Ijaw leader from Bayelsa. The head of INEC's field operations was also Ijaw. The result is an exercise designed to serve ethnic interests, not national integrity.

Why Micheal Johnny's Defence of INEC is Predictable
Micheal Johnny is not a man of law or integrity. He is a militant with a history of exploiting the “resource control” narrative for personal gain. His open support for INEC's fraudulent proposal is no surprise; it benefits him and his ethnic agenda, not the truth or the law.

Itsekiri Facts That Cannot Be Erased
The Itsekiri are the only ethnic group in Delta State with one king, one language, and presence in nine LGA six in Delta Central, three in Delta South.

We are the aboriginal owners of Warri Federal Constituency.
No LGA in Delta State belongs exclusively to one ethnic group. Claims of Ijaw “majority” are manufactured for political purposes.

Security and Political Risks
The Ijaw political class has a track record of biting the very hand that feeds them. Despite holding key Niger Delta appointments under the current administration, they are already working to back former President Goodluck Jonathan against President Tinubu in 2027. The fraudulent delineation is part of a broader agenda to annex Itsekiri land as a political base.

Our Demands
1. INEC - Immediately withdraw this fraudulent proposal and follow its own lawful voter register based guidelines.
2. National Security Adviser - Treat this as a national security threat.

3. Federal Government - Enforce Supreme Court judgments and prosecute those who carried out this fraud.
CONCLUSION

Micheal Johnny was among those involved in the genocide against the Itsekiris. The land he claims to have “rebuilt” was funded with proceeds from illegal oil bunkering - an activity that has contributed significantly to Nigeria's economic decline and recession over the years.

His narrative of having “the numbers” is a complete falsehood, as these supposed numbers never reflect in actual election results. What truly happens is the mass importation of people from Bayelsa, Ondo, Burutu, and Bomadi to artificially inflate the voter register. Yet, during elections, these same imported names and faces are nowhere to be found.

It is also important to point out that having large numbers of hoodlums and militants is not a sign of strength - it is a national security risk. Even Tompolo, the militant leader and Micheal Johnny's mentor, fathered only one daughter. So, how do the Ijaws claim to have more children when their own leaders do not lead by example?

The Itsekiri feed Nigeria's economy but remain underdeveloped. Equity means that where Itsekiri currently have 6 wards, they should rightfully have 14 - not be stripped of them. INEC's fraudulent ward delineation is a direct attack on our land, our people, and our rights. It must be stopped now before it drives this nation toward crisis.

×