Waive Raises Alarm As Delta Central’s Voter Strength Plummets
By PAULINA NZERUBE
REP. Francis Waive, representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the steady and troubling decline in the voting population of the Delta Central Senatorial District.
Speaking at the Delta Central APC Leaders and Stakeholders Meeting held at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun, Waive warned that the shrinking voter base poses a serious threat to the district’s political relevance both in Delta State and at the national level.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Rules and Business, recalled that Delta Central historically held the strongest electoral influence in the state. At the creation of Delta State in 1991, he noted, the district contributed nearly 60% of the total votes recorded statewide. Today, he said, that figure has fallen drastically to about 30%.
Describing the decline as “alarming and inexplicable,” Waive stressed that the district had not suffered any conflict, disaster, epidemic, or displacement that could account for such a drastic drop. He cited several local government areas that once delivered more than 50,000 votes but now struggle to produce even a fraction of those numbers.
“Something is clearly amiss,” he said, warning that continued neglect of the trend could lead to long-term political marginalisation.
With the Independent National Electoral Commission now conducting voter registration, Waive urged party leaders, traditional rulers, community groups, and youth organisations to immediately mobilise eligible citizens aged 18 and above to register. He also appealed to indigenes living outside the state to return home for registration, stressing that voter numbers directly determine political strength.
He noted that even electoral malpractice cannot exceed the number of registered voters in any polling unit, underscoring the strategic importance of building a strong voter base.
Waive further cautioned that if the downward trend continues, future generations may judge today’s Urhobo leadership harshly for failing to protect the district’s political stature.
He charged APC stakeholders to intensify mobilisation across all wards and communities, insisting that Delta Central must reclaim its historic dominance ahead of the 2027 elections. While expressing confidence in the party’s prospects, he warned that electoral success would be incomplete without robust voter turnout from Delta Central.
