Gbaramatu River Shut Down as Ijaw Women Protest INEC Ward Delineation Delay

Boats and cargo movement along the Gbaramatu River was halted Tuesday as Ijaw women staged a mass blockade of the waterway in protest against failure to implement INEC’s ward and polling unit delineation report for Warri Federal Constituency.

The demonstration drew participants from Ijaw communities across Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South West LGAs. The protesters occupied strategic points on the river and used canoes to barricade passage, bringing riverine transport to a standstill.

The protesters demand immediate implementation of INEC’s final report released on May 20, 2026. The report was produced following the Supreme Court’s December 2, 2022 judgment in SC/413/2016, which ordered a fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the three Warri LGAs.

The women argue that delaying implementation denies Ijaw communities fair political representation ahead of the 2027 general elections. Many of the communities affected are riverine and depend heavily on the Gbaramatu River for transport, fishing, and access to markets.

Details later...