Ahead of 2027 general elections, the Warri South-West Unity and Development Forum (WSWUDF) has thrown its weight behind Chief Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, member representing the constituency in the house of representatives and Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. The group also rejected recent criticisms on the two lawmakers, saying it was “misleading and attacks were far from constituency realities.”
The endorsement came during a well-attended press briefing in Warri South-West Local Government Area, where the Forum’s Coordinator, Pastor Arex Akemotubo, delivered a detailed statement on behalf of stakeholders drawn from all ten wards of the LGA. Prominent attendees included Amb. Fred Igere, Chief Hon. Rose Tull, Hon. Omare Gabari, and Hon. Austin Tonfawei.
WSWUDF said its position reflects “the collective voice of responsible leadership” across Itsekiri and Ijaw communities in Warri South-West, dismissing contrary claims by the Itsekiri Grassroots Coalition as “unfounded, misleading, and disconnected from the realities on ground.”
The Forum specifically defended Ereyitomi, Member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, describing him as a “critical asset” and “silent achiever.” It cited his ranking status in the National Assembly, saying it places him “within a strategic circle of influence where real legislative decisions are shaped,” translating to “access, project facilitation, and sustained engagement with federal institutions.”
On Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, the Forum said his emergence reflects “competence, trust, and proven capacity.” It argued that his national leadership role “strengthens the voice of Warri South-West, enhances its visibility, and ensures direct access to legislative coordination at the highest level.”
“The Speaker has consistently demonstrated the capacity to carry both Ijaw and Itsekiri interests along in a balanced and inclusive manner. Such leadership must be preserved, not undermined,” Akemotubo stated.
The WSWUDF strongly condemned what it termed attempts to introduce ethnic sentiment into political discourse, calling the trend “dangerous and counterproductive.”
“Ethnic politics divides communities, weakens governance, and distracts from the real issues of performance and development. Warri’s strength lies in unity, and that unity must not be compromised for political convenience,” the Forum said.
It further alleged that “those amplifying these negative narratives are not grounded in the realities of the people,” describing them as “largely present on social media, operating as content creators rather than active participants in community development and governance.”
“Warri South-West and Warri Federal Constituency cannot be misled by noise,” the statement added.
The Forum declared “unequivocal” support for the continuous representation of both Ereyitomi and Guwor, stating that local government leadership has “consistently shown confidence and satisfaction” with their performance.
“The direction is clear: protect progress, sustain influence, and stand firmly with tested leadership,” Akemotubo concluded.
The briefing marks the latest realignment of grassroots blocs in Warri South-West ahead of future political contests, with WSWUDF urging constituents to focus on “continuity, stability, and sustained development.”
Chief Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi (JP) is a ranking member of the House of Representatives for Warri Federal Constituency. Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor serves as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and currently chairs the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria. Warri South-West LGA comprises ten wards with mixed Itsekiri and Ijaw populations.