UIY Leader Okotie, Awani Slam Onowakpo, Dafinone, Demand Warri Delineation Probe

Comrade Joseph Okotie, the President of the Itsekiri youth body, Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths (UIY), has faulted the positions of Senators Joel Onowakpo (Delta South) and Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) on the proposed Warri Federal Constituency Ward Delineation Exercise, urging President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to launch a thorough investigation into the process.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Thursday in Warri, Okotie insisted that the exercise has been marred by irregularities and has faced strong opposition from Itsekiri, Ogbe-Ijoh, and other stakeholders.

Also speaking at the press briefing, former President of the defunct Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC), Comrade Esimaje Awani declared his firm support for the Itsekiri people. “I stand with my people,” he said.

Awani added that his earlier silence was a deliberate effort to prevent escalating tensions in the constituency but made it clear that peace cannot come at the cost of justice and fairness. Awani noted that the Itsekiri people, who constitute the majority in Warri Federal Constituency, would not allow themselves to be shortchanged.

Both statement follows a heated exchange at the National Assembly between Senator Solomon Lalong and Senator Onowakpo over a motion calling for a probe into the controversial delineation exercise.

In a bid to stop the motion, Senator Onowakpo interrupted Lalong, who chairs the Senate Committee on Electoral and Judicial Matters, arguing that the matter was already before a court of law and should not be discussed on the floor of the Senate.

Awani also publicly showed solidarity with the Okotie-led Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths (UIY) by symbolically lowering the INYC flag and raising that of the UIY, reaffirming the group’s legitimacy under the authority of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri.