Renowned Niger Delta peace advocate, environmental activist, and human rights campaigner, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently implement the final report on the Supreme Court-ordered ward and polling unit delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency, warning that further delays could heighten tensions and threaten peace in the area.
Mulade made the appeal in a personally signed statement made available to journalists, where he also commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for taking proactive measures to foster peace and prevent the escalation of disputes among the ethnic nationalities in the constituency.
The peace and development advocate praised the governor’s interventions aimed at promoting dialogue and maintaining harmony among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo communities, describing the efforts as timely and necessary in the face of growing concerns surrounding the delineation exercise.
According to Mulade, the implementation of the Supreme Court-backed delineation covering Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas has generated increasing apprehension among stakeholders, making it imperative for INEC to act transparently and decisively.
He cautioned that any perceived delay or lack of fairness in implementing the report could reignite longstanding grievances and reopen wounds from the violent conflicts that engulfed Warri and neighbouring communities between 1997 and 2003.
“The situation requires careful handling and urgent attention. Any delay or perception of injustice in the implementation process could trigger avoidable tensions and undermine years of peace-building efforts in the region,” he stated.
Mulade stressed that Warri Federal Constituency occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and remains one of the country’s most ethnically diverse areas, making sustained peace and stability essential for both regional development and national economic interests.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom further urged Governor Oborevwori to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders to ensure tensions are effectively managed and peace is preserved across the affected local government areas.
He also called on INEC to implement the delineation report strictly in accordance with the Supreme Court’s judgment, emphasizing that transparency, fairness, and adherence to due process are vital to maintaining public confidence in the electoral system.
Mulade warned that any failure to address the matter decisively could undermine democratic stability in the region and reverse the gains recorded through years of dialogue, reconciliation, and peace-building initiatives across the Niger Delta.
As debate continues over the delineation exercise, stakeholders across Warri Federal Constituency are closely monitoring developments, with many viewing the implementation of the report as a critical step toward resolving longstanding electoral and communal disputes in the area.
