Mulade Urges INEC to Implement Warri Delineation Report, Commends Oborevwori’s Peace Deal

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 any further delay could heighten tensions among ethnic groups in the area.

Mulade, who emerged as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 general elections, made the appeal in a personally signed statement made available to journalists.

The development advocate expressed concern over the growing anxiety surrounding the implementation of the delineation exercise covering Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas, stressing that the issue must be handled with transparency, fairness and urgency.

He warned that failure to implement the report in line with the Supreme Court judgment could reignite old grievances and trigger a repeat of the violent Warri crises witnessed between 1997 and 2003, which claimed lives, displaced residents and disrupted economic activities across the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the Warri Federal Constituency remains one of the most politically sensitive areas in Delta State due to its ethnic composition and strategic role in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

“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,” Mulade stated.

The renowned peace ambassador cautioned that renewed conflict in the area could negatively impact oil production activities and pose broader economic consequences for the country.

He, however, commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for what he described as proactive efforts aimed at preventing potential conflict and promoting peaceful coexistence among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in the constituency.

Mulade urged Governor Oborevwori to sustain collaboration with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other critical stakeholders to ensure tensions are de-escalated and peace is preserved across the affected local government areas.

The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom further called on INEC to strictly adhere to the Supreme Court directive in implementing the final delineation report, insisting that transparency, fairness and inclusiveness are essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.

He warned that any failure to act decisively could undermine democratic stability in the region and reverse years of peace-building efforts across the Niger Delta.