Ekpemupolo urges calm and dialogue in the Warri Constituency Delineation Dispute following protests and shutdown of oil flow stations
Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, a community leader in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, called for calm and dialogue over the escalating tensions linked to the Supreme Court ordered Warri Federal Constituency delineation exercise, amid rising protests and disruptions in parts of the Niger Delta region.
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Ekpemupolo made the appeal in a statement issued to journalists in Warri, following the shutdown of 13 oil flow stations in Gbaramatu Kingdom by protesting Ijaw women.
The shutdown, which has heightened concern across the region, is part of ongoing agitation linked to the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on ward and polling unit delineation by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In his statement, Ekpemupolo emphasised that the Ijaw people are historically peaceful and must not allow the current political tensions to spiral into violence.
“The Ijaw nation has from time immemorial been known for its peaceful ways and cannot deviate from its history,” he said, calling for restraint from all stakeholders.
He warned that the situation must not be hijacked by elements who could escalate the dispute beyond peaceful engagement, stressing the need for constructive dialogue among affected communities.
Ekpemupolo urged immediate consultation among community leaders to chart a way forward, describing dialogue as essential to resolving the growing impasse.
“I am calling for calm, no matter the situation,” he said, adding that cooperation between stakeholders was necessary to restore stability in the area.
He also called on INEC to act decisively and transparently in implementing the Supreme Court judgement, noting that fairness and compliance with legal directives were critical to restoring confidence in the process.
“We call on the people of Warri, whether Ijaw, Itsekiri or Urhobo, to be calm and wait patiently for INEC to do the right thing,” he stated.
The protest by Ijaw women, who have vowed to maintain their blockade until the electoral commission fully implements the court ruling, has added further pressure on authorities to resolve the longstanding dispute.
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Authorities and community leaders continue to monitor the situation as calls for restraint intensify across the region.
