By Jimitota Onoyume

Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT, an apex Itsekiri body has kicked against alleged effort by the Ijaw and Urhobo of Warri federal constituency to twist the outcome of the recent meeting of the three ethnic groups in the federal constituency with President Bola Tinubu on areas of disagreements in The recently released report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on its ward redelineation exercise in the area .

Secretary of the body and a delegate from Itsekiri nation to the meeting , Sir Sunny Amorighoye Mene said in a statement yesterday evening that contents of the newspaper advertorials from the two ethnic groups were allegedly a deliberate distortion of the outcome of the meeting.

“Accordingly, the Itsekiri Nation rejects attempts by any group to present contested interpretations or ongoing discussions as settled outcomes of the Presidential intervention. Such representations neither advance peace nor reflect the spirit in which the engagements were convened.

“The Itsekiri Nation remains committed to peaceful dialogue, respect for the rule of law, and constructive engagement with all stakeholders. We urge all parties to refrain from misinformation, avoid actions capable of escalating tensions, and support ongoing efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, unity and development within the Warri Federal Constituency “, he said .

He said contrary to claims in the advertorials President Tinubu did not allegedly ” make any pronouncement altering the judicially recognised status of any local government area. Rather, discussions centred on practical pathways towards peaceful implementation of lawful decisions and the management of concerns raised by stakeholders “.

The statement reads : “The Itsekiri ethnic nationality has expressed concern over what it describes as misleading interpretations and misrepresentations of the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the ongoing discussions relating to the proposed delineation of electoral wards and constituencies within the Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“While appreciating the President’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and inclusiveness in Delta State, particularly regarding discussions surrounding the proposed creation of additional state constituencies and the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II, the Itsekiri Nation notes that recent newspaper advertorials and public statements issued by certain Ijaw and Urhobo groups do not accurately reflect the spirit and outcomes of the engagements convened by the President.

“On June 11, 2026, President Tinubu hosted representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of the Warri Federal Constituency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Also in attendance was the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. The meeting focused on finding a peaceful and sustainable resolution to issues arising from the ward delineation exercise conducted by INEC and related concerns within the Warri Federal Constituency.4. Throughout the discussions, the President emphasized the need for peace, dialogue, mutual respect and coexistence among all ethnic nationalities in the area, in keeping with the spirit of national unity embodied in the National Anthem.

“Contrary to certain public claims, the President did not make any pronouncement altering the judicially recognised status of any local government area. Rather, discussions centred on practical pathways towards peaceful implementation of lawful decisions and the management of concerns raised by stakeholders.

“With respect to Warri South Local Government Area, issues concerning the nomenclature of certain wards were discussed. Similarly, discussions relating to Warri South-West Local Government Area focused on representation, inclusiveness and mechanisms for maintaining peace among the constituent ethnic nationalities.

“The President subsequently directed that representatives of the affected ethnic groups engage further under the coordination of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to explore areas of consensus and develop proposals capable of promoting long-term stability within the Warri Federal Constituency.

“Pursuant to this directive, representatives of the Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic nationalities met on June 12, 2026, at the Office of the National Security Adviser. The meeting was attended by the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.

“During the engagement, various proposals relating to representation and power-sharing arrangements within the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II were discussed. These discussions formed part of ongoing consultations aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence and ensuring that all stakeholders have confidence in the process. Deliberations on these matters remain subject to further consultations, legal requirements and constitutional processes where applicable.

“The Itsekiri Nation further notes that President Tinubu consistently urged all parties to pursue dialogue and consensus and cautioned against actions capable of undermining peace or frustrating efforts towards an amicable resolution. The President stressed the importance of cooperation among stakeholders and the need to avoid inflammatory narratives capable of heightening tensions in the area.

“Accordingly, the Itsekiri Nation rejects attempts by any group to present contested interpretations or ongoing discussions as settled outcomes of the Presidential intervention. Such representations neither advance peace nor reflect the spirit in which the engagements were convened.

“The Itsekiri Nation remains committed to peaceful dialogue, respect for the rule of law, and constructive engagement with all stakeholders. We urge all parties to refrain from misinformation, avoid actions capable of escalating tensions, and support ongoing efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, unity and development within the Warri Federal Constituency.”