The Uduere community has issued a strong warning to the Chairman of Ughelli north local government council, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, urging him to refrain from interfering in the community’s forthcoming executive election.
The community also appealed to the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to intervene and caution the council chairman against imposing his preferred candidate on the people.
Speaking to journalists, former Chairman of the Uduere Community, Comrade Benson Akpodamure, emphasized that the community’s constitution clearly spells out a rotational system for all executive positions.
“In our constitution, every office in the executive rotates among the three quarters in the community. When it is not your quarter’s turn, you do not interfere,” he explained.
He noted that the presidency has now rotated to the Achophor quarter, from which eligible candidates and delegates had already been lawfully selected.
“The position has rotated to Achophor, and we have selected those qualified for the positions allotted to our quarter.
“We have also chosen our 10 delegates, including elders and other representatives, to vote in the election,” he said.
Akpodamure expressed shock that an opposing group had produced a parallel list of delegates from the same quarter.
Investigations, he claimed, revealed that the list was allegedly orchestrated by the outgoing president and endorsed by someone outside the Achophor quarter.
“At the community meeting, the oldest man presented a list of delegates that originated from someone who is not from our quarter, and it was signed by only one person,” he said.
He stated that after verification, the authentic Achophor delegate list was submitted to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Asaba and duly accepted.
Concerns, however, arose when the council chairman later summoned the community for a meeting.
“When we got there, he informed us that some candidates would be screened out if found unqualified. We could not object because we were in his office,” he recounted.
Akpodamure stressed that the community’s demand is straightforward: that the legitimate and officially accepted list be used for the election.
“Our request is simple. We want the list submitted to Asaba, the one already approved, to be used. Chief Egbo is not from our quarter; he is from Abovwe.
He should not meddle in our internal election, especially when it appears he has personal interest,” he said.
He further alleged that certain youths, including Deboy Omonigho and Taire Emoto, were being influenced to dilute the quarter’s voting strength.
Akpodamure also revealed that although the election was originally scheduled for August 16, 2025, the council chairman postponed it without formally informing the community.
“We have written to the Governor to notify him of the crisis the Council Chairman is causing. We are calling on him to come to our aid,” he added.
In a swift reaction, the Council boss said: “The allegation is entirely false and appears to be a desperate attempt to undermine a free and fair electoral process.
“Having already failed to achieve their aims through the courts, they have resorted to spreading misleading narratives.
“Although I am not a voter, I cannot tolerate any form of lawlessness in Ughelli North, especially in Uduere, where I have personally contributed to development by providing electricity, roads, and other support.
“I reside in the community, unlike those fueling tensions from the comfort of the town, and I remain committed to peace, fairness, and due process”, Egbo added.
