The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Thursday formally inaugurated its Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, marking what its National Chairman, Dr. Godknows Igali, described as a significant step toward strengthening the voice and representation of Niger Delta citizens living in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, Igali said the establishment of the FCT chapter provides “approval, recognition, and full enablement” for Niger Delta indigenes in the capital to organise, engage, and advance the Forum’s objectives more effectively.
“While a liaison office has always existed in Abuja, today’s inauguration gives our people here their own structured platform,” he said. “PANDEF is not merely a forum of protest — it is a platform of solutions, a partner in building a Nigeria that is inclusive, equitable, and prosperous.”
Igali reiterated that PANDEF’s mandate remains rooted in environmental justice for the oil-rich region, long affected by exploration activities, ecological degradation, and unfair resource allocation.
He traced PANDEF’s evolution to the early years of the Fourth Republic, recalling the emergence of the South-South Constitutive Assembly and the South-South People’s Congress — two bodies that later merged in 2004 to form the South-South People’s Assembly (SSPA), led by former Edo State Governor Odigie Oyegun and elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark, who passed away earlier in 2025.
“The SSPA was the authoritative voice of the South-South for over a decade,” Igali noted. “But over time, partisan tensions and the loss of leading figures weakened the body. After the 2015 elections, the need for renewal became obvious.”
He said that after extensive consultations, the idea for a rebirth under a new identity emerged, with the late activist Tony Uranta proposing the name Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
Emphasising unity, Igali declared: “Attempts to divide us have failed before and will continue to fail. As we inaugurate the FCT chapter, we do so in honour of our founding fathers. The baton is now in our hands — and the flag must not falter.”
He added that PANDEF’s presence in Abuja is now “firmly established” and called on members to remain a strong voice for national cohesion, justice, and development.
In his remarks, the pioneer Chairman of the PANDEF FCT chapter, Mr. Bello Premier, expressed gratitude to the national leadership for expanding the Forum’s footprint beyond the Niger Delta.
“For five months, we have worked tirelessly for this day,” he said. “Though PANDEF represents the nine Niger Delta states, the FCT chapter is a national project. We will partner with the Federal Government to ensure the dividends of democracy reach the last citizen.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the PANDEF Board of Trustees, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize development in the Niger Delta.
“The region is rich and strategically important,” he said. “With the emerging blue economy opportunities, even more can be harnessed for national growth.”