The Ereku/Ogisi family in Warri, Delta state, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise them as the rightful landowners involved in the recent ward delineation exercise in the Warri-South Local Government Area of Delta State.
At a press conference in Lagos, the Igba of Warri kingdom, Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor, emphasised that Warri was historically known as Odion Town before the colonial era. She asserted that INEC had been engaging with individuals who lack legitimate claims to the land, including elected officials who do not represent the family’s interests.
“We cannot allow our ancestral land to be handed over to strangers under the guise of ward delineation. We have documented proof of ownership and are prepared to present our case before any legal or governmental body.”
The family contended that misinformation led INEC to consult secondary stakeholders rather than direct descendants of Warri’s original settlers. They argued that land ownership disputes should not be mistaken for tribal conflicts between the Urhobo and Itsekiri groups.
Chief Ogbebor, a descendant of Odion Town’s founder, Ogisi Odion, stated, “For over a hundred years, we have been sidelined. Government leases in Warri were signed under our name, yet we are continually excluded from critical decisions concerning our land. We urged INEC to correct alleged errors in the delineation process and ensure future decisions are based on historical land ownership records.”
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