WRT Applaud Senator Simon Bako Lalong as Senator of the year, for standing up for truth and electoral justice
Warri Reclamation Thrust reacts to the Senate session of the 12th day November, 2025; commends the bravery of Senator Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and condemns Senator Joel Onowakpo’s biased representation against the Itsekiri Nation
Warri Reclamation Thrust has described Senator Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters as the Senator of the year for his role in standing up for the truth when it matters most.
In contrast, WRT expressed deep disappointment over what it describes as the blatantly biased conduct of Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District, during the recent Senate deliberations on the controversial Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.
The group noted that it was unfortunate and deeply saddening that a Senator who rode to office on the collective goodwill of the Itsekiri, Isoko, and Ijaw people of Delta South, has now chosen to side with one ethnic group, openly defending the Ijaw and Urhobo positions, rather than maintaining neutrality and fairness expected of a federal legislator as dictated by the Oath of Office as contained in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended which said provisions fully incorporates the Directive Principles on State policy as per section 14 of the said statute.
According to the group, Senator Onowakpo, whose maternal heritage is Ijaw and who speaks the language fluently, “has abandoned his constitutional duty to be fair to all manner of persons and not to allow his personal or ethnic interest interfere with his official duty the Senator took sides in defence of his mother’s people instead of the defence of the constitution,” even in the face of overwhelming evidence of INEC’s fraudulent and politically motivated ward delineation exercise, which has long been a source of tension and insecurity in Warri and the wider Niger Delta region.
Videos from the Senate chambers revealed that Senator Onowakpo reportedly lost his composure and confronted Senator Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, in anger, as the latter moved a motion for investigation into the petitions submitted by the Itsekiri nation. The outburst, according to observers, further reinforced suspicions of Senator Onowakpo’s alleged involvement in INEC’s manipulation against the Itsekiri people.
The group maintained that the INEC ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency represents “one of the most fraudulent exercises in Nigeria’s history,” highlighting that Gbaramatu (Ijaw) was increased from one (1) ward to eight (8), while Itsekiri wards were reduced from six (6) to five (5), a move they described as “gross injustice and systemic oppression.”
The group further decried the fact that INEC’s use of wrong geographical coordinates led to the inclusion of communities outside Delta State, some allegedly within Edo and Ondo States, into the delineation map. Even some Ijaw communities, such as Ogbe-Ijoh, reportedly condemned the process as “fraudulent,” lending credibility to the Itsekiri position.
Despite the clear irregularities, Senators Joel Onowakpo and Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) were said to have mounted pressure within the Red Chamber to stop the investigation, arguing that INEC was the only body constitutionally empowered to delineate constituencies. This, the group said, “proves that both senators do not have the peace and unity of the Niger Delta at heart.”
However, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, acted swiftly to calm tensions by expanding the scope of investigation from one committee to five, ensuring greater transparency. These committees, Judiciary (as lead), Electoral Matters, Public Petitions, Special Duties, and State & Local Governments—were mandated to determine whether the matter was already in court and to report back within four weeks.
Senator Simon Bako Lalong, who moved the motion titled “Delineation Exercise Embarked Upon by INEC in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State: The Need for Urgent Intervention to Prevent Political Crisis,” was widely commended for his integrity and courage in standing by the truth despite political pressure.
The group expressed appreciation to Senator Lalong for “standing tall amidst bias and political intimidation,” insisting that his motion was not only timely but necessary to prevent further political unrest in the Niger Delta and to safeguard the unity and peace of Nigeria.
They also urged the Senate leadership to sanction Senator Joel Onowakpo for his unguarded conduct and open partisanship during plenary, stressing that such actions “do not reflect the decorum expected of a federal lawmaker, especially one whose mandate was built on multi-ethnic support.”
The group described the excuse offered by Senator Joel of there being pending litigation on the issue as dumb because there was a Supreme Court judgment which settled the name of the land known as Okerenghigho before the Senator secretly presented the bill bearing a different name seeking to upturn the said decision of the Supreme Court.
The group argued that it is a misconception of the law to contend that when the Senate deliberates on an issue of national regarding INEC, it is tantamount to inferring with the functions of INEC. That the group says is not the law at all.
In conclusion, the group reiterated that the fraudulent INEC delineation must be investigated and reversed in the interest of national peace, justice, and equality among all ethnic nationalities in Delta State and the Niger Delta region.
Signed:
Mrs Tsaye Edeyibo mene
Convener
Comr. Oritsetsemisan Momorin
Secretary
WRT Applaud Senator Simon Bako Lalong as Senator of the year, for standing up for truth and electoral justice
Warri Reclamation Thrust reacts to the Senate session of the 12th day November, 2025; commends the bravery of Senator Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and condemns Senator Joel Onowakpo’s biased representation against the Itsekiri Nation
Warri Reclamation Thrust has described Senator Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters as the Senator of the year for his role in standing up for the truth when it matters most.
In contrast, WRT expressed deep disappointment over what it describes as the blatantly biased conduct of Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District, during the recent Senate deliberations on the controversial Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State.
The group noted that it was unfortunate and deeply saddening that a Senator who rode to office on the collective goodwill of the Itsekiri, Isoko, and Ijaw people of Delta South, has now chosen to side with one ethnic group, openly defending the Ijaw and Urhobo positions, rather than maintaining neutrality and fairness expected of a federal legislator as dictated by the Oath of Office as contained in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended which said provisions fully incorporates the Directive Principles on State policy as per section 14 of the said statute.
According to the group, Senator Onowakpo, whose maternal heritage is Ijaw and who speaks the language fluently, “has abandoned his constitutional duty to be fair to all manner of persons and not to allow his personal or ethnic interest interfere with his official duty the Senator took sides in defence of his mother’s people instead of the defence of the constitution,” even in the face of overwhelming evidence of INEC’s fraudulent and politically motivated ward delineation exercise, which has long been a source of tension and insecurity in Warri and the wider Niger Delta region.
Videos from the Senate chambers revealed that Senator Onowakpo reportedly lost his composure and confronted Senator Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, in anger, as the latter moved a motion for investigation into the petitions submitted by the Itsekiri nation. The outburst, according to observers, further reinforced suspicions of Senator Onowakpo’s alleged involvement in INEC’s manipulation against the Itsekiri people.
The group maintained that the INEC ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency represents “one of the most fraudulent exercises in Nigeria’s history,” highlighting that Gbaramatu (Ijaw) was increased from one (1) ward to eight (8), while Itsekiri wards were reduced from six (6) to five (5), a move they described as “gross injustice and systemic oppression.”
The group further decried the fact that INEC’s use of wrong geographical coordinates led to the inclusion of communities outside Delta State, some allegedly within Edo and Ondo States, into the delineation map. Even some Ijaw communities, such as Ogbe-Ijoh, reportedly condemned the process as “fraudulent,” lending credibility to the Itsekiri position.
Despite the clear irregularities, Senators Joel Onowakpo and Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) were said to have mounted pressure within the Red Chamber to stop the investigation, arguing that INEC was the only body constitutionally empowered to delineate constituencies. This, the group said, “proves that both senators do not have the peace and unity of the Niger Delta at heart.”
However, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, acted swiftly to calm tensions by expanding the scope of investigation from one committee to five, ensuring greater transparency. These committees, Judiciary (as lead), Electoral Matters, Public Petitions, Special Duties, and State & Local Governments—were mandated to determine whether the matter was already in court and to report back within four weeks.
Senator Simon Bako Lalong, who moved the motion titled “Delineation Exercise Embarked Upon by INEC in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State: The Need for Urgent Intervention to Prevent Political Crisis,” was widely commended for his integrity and courage in standing by the truth despite political pressure.
The group expressed appreciation to Senator Lalong for “standing tall amidst bias and political intimidation,” insisting that his motion was not only timely but necessary to prevent further political unrest in the Niger Delta and to safeguard the unity and peace of Nigeria.
They also urged the Senate leadership to sanction Senator Joel Onowakpo for his unguarded conduct and open partisanship during plenary, stressing that such actions “do not reflect the decorum expected of a federal lawmaker, especially one whose mandate was built on multi-ethnic support.”
The group described the excuse offered by Senator Joel of there being pending litigation on the issue as dumb because there was a Supreme Court judgment which settled the name of the land known as Okerenghigho before the Senator secretly presented the bill bearing a different name seeking to upturn the said decision of the Supreme Court.
The group argued that it is a misconception of the law to contend that when the Senate deliberates on an issue of national regarding INEC, it is tantamount to inferring with the functions of INEC. That the group says is not the law at all.
In conclusion, the group reiterated that the fraudulent INEC delineation must be investigated and reversed in the interest of national peace, justice, and equality among all ethnic nationalities in Delta State and the Niger Delta region.
Signed:
Mr. Oritsegbubemi Adrian Edema
Mrs Tsaye Edeyibo mene
Mr. Bright Omaghomi
Comr Lily-white O Esigbone
Comr. Osandatunwa Oritsematosan Priscilla
Comr. Toritseju Joseph Ogharandukun
Comr. Oritsetsemisan Momorin
Comr. Uremure Ayeoritsenasor Paul
Comr. Gbone Awala
Mr Alfred Omatseyin
Mr. Kwame woods
Comr. Utse-oritselaju Edeyibo
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