By Francis Sadhere, Warri
Niger Delta rights activist and environmental advocate, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately implement its final report on the Supreme Court-ordered ward and polling unit delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, warning that any further delay could heighten tensions and threaten peace in the area.
Mulade, who is the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Warri Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections, made the appeal in a statement personally signed and made available to journalists.
He commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for the proactive measures taken by his administration to prevent the emerging tensions among the major ethnic groups in the constituency, particularly the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities.
The renowned peace ambassador and development advocate noted that the implementation of the Supreme Court-backed delineation exercise covering Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas has generated anxiety and growing tension among stakeholders in the region.
According to him, the situation requires urgent attention from electoral authorities to prevent a repeat of the violent conflicts that engulfed Warri and its environs between 1997 and 2003, leaving devastating social and economic consequences across the Niger Delta.
Mulade warned that any perceived delay, lack of transparency or unfairness in implementing the delineation report could reignite long-standing grievances and trigger a wider crisis capable of disrupting oil and gas operations in the region.
“The situation must be handled with utmost caution and urgency. Any delay or perceived injustice in the implementation of the delineation report could reopen old wounds and push the area into an avoidable crisis,” he stated.
He stressed that Warri Federal Constituency remains one of the most sensitive political and economic zones in the country because of its ethnic diversity and strategic role in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom emphasized that sustaining peace in the area should take precedence over all political interests and considerations.
Mulade further appealed to Governor Oborevwori to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other critical stakeholders to ensure that tensions are effectively managed and peace is maintained across the affected local government areas.
He also urged INEC to implement the final delineation report strictly in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive, insisting that transparency, fairness and adherence to the rule of law are essential for maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
The human rights advocate cautioned that failure to act decisively could undermine democratic stability in the region and erode years of painstaking peace-building efforts in the Niger Delta.
As debates over the delineation exercise continue, stakeholders across the Warri Federal Constituency are closely monitoring developments, with many viewing the implementation of the report as a crucial step toward resolving long-standing electoral and communal disputes in the area.
Niger Delta rights activist and environmental advocate, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately implement its final report on the Supreme Court-ordered ward and polling unit delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, warning that any further delay could heighten tensions and threaten peace in the area.
Mulade, who is the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Warri Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections, made the appeal in a statement personally signed and made available to journalists.
He commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for the proactive measures taken by his administration to prevent the emerging tensions among the major ethnic groups in the constituency, particularly the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities.
The renowned peace ambassador and development advocate noted that the implementation of the Supreme Court-backed delineation exercise covering Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas has generated anxiety and growing tension among stakeholders in the region.
According to him, the situation requires urgent attention from electoral authorities to prevent a repeat of the violent conflicts that engulfed Warri and its environs between 1997 and 2003, leaving devastating social and economic consequences across the Niger Delta.
Mulade warned that any perceived delay, lack of transparency or unfairness in implementing the delineation report could reignite long-standing grievances and trigger a wider crisis capable of disrupting oil and gas operations in the region.
“The situation must be handled with utmost caution and urgency. Any delay or perceived injustice in the implementation of the delineation report could reopen old wounds and push the area into an avoidable crisis,” he stated.
He stressed that Warri Federal Constituency remains one of the most sensitive political and economic zones in the country because of its ethnic diversity and strategic role in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom emphasized that sustaining peace in the area should take precedence over all political interests and considerations.
Mulade further appealed to Governor Oborevwori to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other critical stakeholders to ensure that tensions are effectively managed and peace is maintained across the affected local government areas.
He also urged INEC to implement the final delineation report strictly in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive, insisting that transparency, fairness and adherence to the rule of law are essential for maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
The human rights advocate cautioned that failure to act decisively could undermine democratic stability in the region and erode years of painstaking peace-building efforts in the Niger Delta.
As debates over the delineation exercise continue, stakeholders across the Warri Federal Constituency are closely monitoring developments, with many viewing the implementation of the report as a crucial step toward resolving long-standing electoral and communal disputes in the area.
