Niger Delta environmental rights activist and peace 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 heighten tensions and threaten the fragile peace in the area.
Mulade made the appeal in a personally signed statement made available to journalists, expressing concern over growing apprehension among ethnic groups in the constituency following the conclusion of the delineation exercise covering Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas.
He commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for what he described as proactive efforts by the state government to prevent tensions from escalating among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in the constituency.
According to Mulade, swift implementation of the delineation report in line with the Supreme Court’s directive is necessary to forestall a repeat of the violent conflicts that rocked Warri and its environs between 1997 and 2003.
“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 said.
The renowned peace advocate noted that Warri Federal Constituency remains one of the most politically and economically sensitive areas in the Niger Delta because of its ethnic diversity and strategic role in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He warned that failure to implement the report transparently and fairly could reignite long-standing grievances among communities and potentially disrupt oil production activities in the region.
“Warri Federal Constituency occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s economy. Peace and stability in the area must be prioritised above every political consideration. Any action capable of undermining public confidence in the process should be avoided,” Mulade stated.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom further urged Governor Oborevwori to sustain engagement with traditional rulers, community leaders and security agencies to ensure that tensions are effectively managed and peaceful coexistence is maintained across the affected local government areas.
He also called on INEC to demonstrate transparency and fairness in the implementation process, stressing that adherence to the Supreme Court’s judgment would strengthen public trust in the electoral system.
“INEC must ensure that the final delineation report is implemented strictly in line with the Supreme Court’s directive. Transparency, fairness and justice are critical to sustaining confidence in our democratic institutions,” he said.
Mulade cautioned that any failure to act decisively could undermine democratic stability in the region and reverse years of peace-building efforts undertaken by governments, traditional institutions and stakeholders across the Niger Delta.
The activist’s intervention comes amid heightened interest in the outcome of the delineation exercise, which many stakeholders consider a critical step towards addressing longstanding electoral and communal disputes within Warri Federal Constituency.
