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Oil production activities in parts of Delta State were disrupted on Monday as hundreds of Ijaw women, youths and community leaders staged coordinated protests, leading to the shutdown of nine major oil and gas flow stations in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The protesters, who occupied key facilities operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited, vowed that production would remain suspended until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) implements the constituency delineation report it unveiled earlier this year.
Among the facilities affected by the protest were the Kenyagbene (Abiteye), Otunana, Jones Creek, Odidi 1 and 2, Batan, Ogbanabou, and Egwa 1 and 2 flow stations, all of which are critical to oil production in the area.
The protest marks a significant escalation in the long-running controversy surrounding the Warri Federal Constituency ward delineation exercise carried out by INEC following a Supreme Court judgment.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Implement Warri Delineation Report,” “Court Ordered Judgment on Wards and Polling Units Delineation,” and “No Implementation, No Production,” the demonstrators accused INEC of delaying the enforcement of its own report presented to stakeholders in Asaba on May 20, 2026.
The protesters argued that the dispute goes beyond electoral boundaries and touches on issues of political inclusion, representation and fairness for communities that host major oil and gas installations.
Speaking at the Kenyagbene (Abiteye) Flow Station, community leader, Chief Dr. Marian Ebike Ogoba, said the Ijaw people were demanding the implementation of a process already completed by INEC in compliance with a Supreme Court directive.
“We are not looking for trouble. We are only demanding our lawful rights. These facilities will remain shut until INEC obeys the court order and implements the delineation report,” she said.
Ogoba lamented what she described as decades of political marginalisation despite the enormous contributions of the oil-bearing communities to the national economy.
Also speaking, a former Secretary of Benekukru Community, Madam Fanty Goodness Owotorufa, maintained that the protest was peaceful but necessary, stressing that residents had exhausted other avenues in seeking implementation of the report.
“The Supreme Court has already spoken. INEC carried out the exercise and published the report. What remains is implementation. We are peaceful people, but we want justice,” she stated.
The controversy stems from a 2022 Supreme Court judgment directing a comprehensive review of electoral wards and polling units within the Warri Federal Constituency. Following the ruling, INEC conducted the exercise, received objections from stakeholders and subsequently produced a final report.
A community opinion leader and former Secretary of Benikrukru Community, Dr. Paul Boyitie, questioned why the electoral commission had yet to formally implement the recommendations despite completing the process.
“The final report clearly outlines the wards for the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri communities. Stakeholders were consulted and objections addressed. We want the new structure in place before the 2027 elections,” he said.
At the Otunana Flow Station, protesters reiterated their determination to sustain the shutdown until their demands are met.
Representing the Krukrudagbene Community, Edith Odafe said operations at the facility would remain suspended until INEC officially enforces the ward and constituency arrangements contained in the report.
“The process was completed and the results were presented to stakeholders. What we are asking for now is implementation. The station remains closed until that happens,” she declared.
Another community representative, Mrs. Gladys Kele, insisted that the protest was aimed solely at securing the political rights of the affected communities and not to provoke conflict.
“We are not interested in confrontation. We only want what rightfully belongs to us. We will remain here until our rights and allocated wards are protected,” she said.
As of the time of filing this report, neither INEC nor Chevron Nigeria Limited had issued an official response to the shutdown of the facilities or the demands of the protesters.
