In a dramatic turn of events, the Ogbe-Ijaw people of Warri South West Local Government Area (LGA) have joined forces with the Itsekiri Nation to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged manipulation of geographic coordinates in the creation of electoral wards. This controversy has ignited tensions in the region and raised serious questions about the integrity of Nigeria's electoral process.

On July 31, 2025, a group identifying themselves as Concerned Citizens of Warri Federal Constituency submitted a formal protest letter to INEC's headquarters in Abuja. The letter, signed by Ebikobowei Loveth Pere-Timi, accuses the electoral body of using "fictitious and manipulated" coordinates to unfairly benefit Gbaramatu Ijaw settlers in the ongoing federal ward delineation exercise.

The petitioners argue that INEC's actions have led to a gross misrepresentation of the region's demographics and geography. They claim that non-existent communities with fabricated coordinates have been included in the ward delineation, skewing the distribution of electoral power in favor of one group.

Among the key demands outlined in the letter is the immediate removal of these allegedly fictitious communities. The Ogbe-Ijaw people are also calling for the restoration of several misplaced communities, including Odidi 1, Odidi 2, and Tekedor Kusimi, which they claim rightfully belong to their territory.

Furthermore, the petitioners are demanding the inclusion of overlooked settlements such as Lokiri 1 and 2, and Ovou Zion. They argue that these omissions have further distorted the representation of the area's true population distribution.

Perhaps most contentiously, the Ogbe-Ijaw Kingdom is seeking a significant increase in their ward allocation. Despite claiming to be the largest community in Warri Southwest LGA in terms of both landmass and population, they were only granted 2 out of the proposed 19 registration areas. The petitioners are now demanding a minimum of eight wards in the new delineation.

The letter emphasizes the strategic importance of the Ogbe-Ijaw Kingdom, which reportedly extends from the main town to the Forcados and Escravos Rivers, encompassing key oil and gas facilities. This economic significance, they argue, further underscores the need for fair representation.

The petitioners have warned that while peace will prevail if INEC corrects these alleged mistakes, continued injustice could lead to unrest in the region. They are calling on INEC to disregard what they term as misleading online narratives and instead focus on addressing the errors that arose during the fieldwork collation process.

As tensions simmer in Warri South West, all eyes are now on INEC. The electoral body's response to these allegations will be crucial in maintaining the credibility of Nigeria's electoral process and preserving peace in this volatile region. The coming days are likely to see increased scrutiny of INEC's ward delineation methods and a heated debate over the fair representation of Nigeria's diverse communities in its electoral framework.