WARRI/Nigeria: Niger Delta rights activist and environmental advocate, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently implement its final report on the Supreme Court-ordered ward and polling unit delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, warning that further delays could spark renewed tensions and threaten the fragile peace in the area.
Mulade, who is the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Warri Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, made the call in a personally signed statement made available to journalists, stressing that the electoral body must act swiftly and transparently to prevent a repeat of the violent conflicts that once engulfed the constituency.
The renowned peace and development advocate also commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for the proactive measures taken by his administration to prevent a looming crisis among the major ethnic groups in Warri Federal Constituency, particularly the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities.
He noted that the implementation of the Supreme Court-backed delineation exercise covering Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas had generated increasing tension among stakeholders, warning that any further delay in implementing the report could worsen the situation.
Recalling the devastating Warri crises between 1997 and 2003, Mulade said the region could not afford a return to violence, given the enormous human, social and economic losses suffered during that period.
He cautioned that failure to implement the delineation report transparently and fairly could inflame long-standing grievances and potentially trigger a broader conflict capable of disrupting oil and gas production activities in the Niger Delta.
“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.
Mulade emphasized that Warri Federal Constituency remains one of the most sensitive political and economic zones in the country because of its ethnic diversity and strategic importance to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
According to him, peace, equity and justice must remain the guiding principles in addressing issues arising from the delineation exercise, rather than political interests or sectional considerations.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom further appealed to Governor Oborevwori to deepen collaboration with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure tensions are de-escalated and lasting peace maintained across the affected local government areas.
He also urged INEC to ensure that the final delineation report is implemented strictly in line with the Supreme Court’s directive, insisting that transparency, fairness and adherence to the rule of law are critical to sustaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Mulade warned that any failure to act decisively could undermine democratic stability in the region and reverse years of painstaking peace-building efforts across the Niger Delta.
He maintained that the successful implementation of the delineation exercise would not only strengthen electoral credibility but also help address longstanding communal and political disputes that have persisted in the constituency for decades.
The activist noted that stakeholders across the region were closely monitoring developments, as calls continue to mount for the implementation of the delineation report, which many consider crucial to achieving lasting peace, fairness and political stability in Warri Federal Constituency.
