PANDEF CONDEMNS POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN WARRI, CALABAR AND ASABA, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE HALT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS

9th November, 2026

PRESS STATEMENT

PANDEF CONDEMNS POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN WARRI, CALABAR AND ASABA, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE HALT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS

1. The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) notes with very serious concern and strongly condemns the disturbing incidents of political violence recorded around our region. Most worrisome are the sad events which occurred in the Warri/Effurun axis on Friday, 18th September 2026; in Calabar on Wednesday, 4th November, 2026 and most recently, the incident in Asaba on Saturday, 7th November 2026 in which a life was lost!

2. Indeed, as the mother body of the peoples of the region, PANDEF views these developments as a sacrilege to our peaceful co-existence in the Niger Delta and strongly condemned them.

3. PANDEF wishes to restate that violence, intimidation and political thuggery are alien to the spirit, values and traditions of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and political forbearance for which the people of the South-South are known. This is what we inherited from our founding fathers and MUST be sustained.

4. The Forum reminds all leaders, supporters and stakeholders of political parties to demonstrate maturity and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship in resolving political differences where they arise. The leaders of political groups must recognise their sacred responsibility to guide their followers and discourage every form of inflammatory rhetorics, provocation and conduct capable of triggering violence.

5. PANDEF hereby makes a special appeal to the youths of the Niger Delta not to allow themselves to be used as cannon fodders, instruments of political violence, thuggery or intimidation. Our young people as primary focus of our democratic governance are the future of our region and should channel their energy and zeal towards peaceful and constructive political activism. This must not be sacrificed on the altar of depraved interests of few selfish political actors.

6.. Regarding what has happened, we urge the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security agencies to undertake urgently, thorough investigations in the various locations to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and masterminds, and ensure that they are brought to book.

7. We advise that political parties and their leadership should, as much as possible, organise rallies and large gatherings in properly walled or secured venues, with adequate security arrangements whenever transit movements become necessary. This will facilitate better crowd control, minimise the risk of clashes and ensure the safety of all concerned.

8. We therefore call on all stakeholders to place the collective interest of our region above partisan considerations and work together to preserve peace, protect lives and property, and sustain the values of mutual forbearance that bind us together as a people.

9. Finally, PANDEF insists that the entire South-South must remain a region of peace, tolerance, mutual respect and responsible democratic engagement through out this election season and beyond.

Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, PhD, OON
National Chairman