Nigeria’s rival Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities have reached a landmark political agreement to rotate representation in the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II, following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at resolving tensions triggered by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) controversial ward delineation exercise.
The breakthrough was achieved on Friday during a high-level reconciliation meeting chaired by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The meeting brought together representatives of the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups alongside senior government officials, including the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.
Under the terms of the agreement, the House of Representatives seat for the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II will rotate between the two ethnic nationalities. The Ijaw will occupy the seat for the first two consecutive terms, after which the Itsekiri will assume the position for the following two terms.
The accord follows President Tinubu’s meeting with stakeholders from Delta State at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, where he directed that representatives from the three ethnic nationalities involved in the dispute engage in dialogue under Ribadu’s supervision to develop a political framework acceptable to all parties.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Ijaw nationality by former Delta State Deputy Governor Kingsley Otuaro and Dr Eric Omare, while Sir A.S. Mene and Chief Robinson Ariyo signed for the Itsekiri delegation.
Ribadu endorsed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, with Olorogun Victor Okumagba and Chief Westham Adehor signing as witnesses.
The power-sharing arrangement is widely seen as a significant step towards easing longstanding political tensions in the Warri axis and fostering stability following disagreements over INEC’s ward delineation exercise
