Delta Communities Threaten Shutdown of Oil Facilities Over INEC’s “Unjust” Ward Delineation
Oil-producing communities in the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom of Delta State have issued a strong ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), threatening to shut down major oil and gas operations if what they describe as a “gross injustice” in ward delineation is not urgently addressed.
The communities, hosts to key national oil assets such as the Ajuju/Batan, Egwa II, Odidi I & II fields, and part of OML 30, OML 42, and PPL 213, accuse INEC of politically motivated gerrymandering in its recent allocation of registration areas in Warri South West Local Government Area.
At a press conference held Tuesday in Egwa II Community, representatives Clement Tekedor, Samson Oyimi, Emmanuel Kusimi, and Johnbull Aniyanghan declared the people’s rejection of INEC’s proposal, which allocates only two of 19 electoral wards to Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom despite the community allegedly accounting for 40% of the LGA’s population.
“We shall be forced to take our destiny into our hands,” the group stated. “We cannot guarantee the continued flow of oil and gas if this injustice is not reversed.”
The community alleges that INEC’s actions are influenced by political interests seeking to marginalize the Ogbe-Ijoh people in favor of Gbaramatu Kingdom, which was allocated nine wards. They questioned the population data used by INEC, pointing to the 2023 NPC report which credits Ogbe-Ijoh with 116 of 290 total localities the highest in the LGA.
They further claim that during fieldwork, INEC identified 251 new polling unit points in Ogbe-Ijoh alone. Yet, these findings were not reflected in the interim delineation report released by INEC on April 4, 2025.
The press statement also alleges suppression of legitimate Ogbe-Ijoh communities from INEC’s maps, accusing officials of inserting fictitious settlements to inflate the presence of other kingdoms.
“INEC’s allocation process clearly contradicts its own criteria outlined in the March 21, 2024 guidelines, which emphasized population size, geographical compactness, and contiguity,” the statement read.
Despite multiple petitions, the community claims the same INEC officials responsible for the controversial delineation are overseeing the complaints process, worsening the situation rather than correcting it.
Calling on INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu to intervene, the community demanded that Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom be allocated at least eight of the 19 wards a number they believe accurately reflects their demographic and geographic weight in the LGA.
“This is not just about numbers; it is about equity, justice, and peace,” the community emphasized. “Failure to correct this injustice will leave us with no option but to take actions that will disrupt the oil and gas supply chain in our region.”
The situation continues to escalate, with tensions rising between electoral authorities and the aggrieved oil-producing communities of Delta State.
