Delta Oil Facility Shut Down Amid INEC Delineation Protests

Protesters have shut down a major oil facility in Delta State, as tensions rise over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) proposed ward delineation for the Warri federal constituency.

The facility, with a capacity of 28,000 barrels per day, is located in Warri South-West Local Government Area (LGA) and is currently operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings, following its acquisition from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The protests began on Monday and are focused on INEC’s recently announced ward and polling unit boundaries, which were unveiled last Friday following a Supreme Court ruling. The delineation process, aimed at re-organising electoral constituencies, has sparked widespread discontent, particularly among local communities in Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North LGAs.

Demonstrators, including men, women, and youths, have gathered in significant numbers at the oil facility, holding placards and chanting slogans condemning what they describe as an attempt at “ethnic cleansing” by INEC. They argue that the proposed boundaries fail to account for the historical and cultural identities of the region’s ethnic groups, including the Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw peoples.

Amorighoye Mene, Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, voiced strong criticism of the proposal, claiming it did not adequately reflect the voting strengths of the area’s various ethnic groups. “We were not given an opportunity to air our grievances at the unveiling of the proposal,” Mene said. “We will not accept a process that erases our community names and divides us unjustly.”

The protesters have called for the withdrawal of INEC’s proposal and are demanding a more inclusive and culturally sensitive exercise. Local leaders have also suggested legal action could be taken against INEC if their concerns are not addressed.

The protests have raised concerns about the potential impact on Nigeria’s oil production, with warnings that unrest could spread to other key facilities in the region, which are vital to the country’s crude oil output.