By Nelson Agbajor
Controversy has continued to trail the purported election recently held to usher in a new executive for Ugborhen Community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.
The controversy arose from the postponement of the election following a security report by the Sapele Local Government Council that the conduct of the election into the executive of Ugborhen Community Development Committee, UCDC, might lead to destruction of lives and property.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the exercise which was postponed earlier was again held on Saturday December 5th as against the security report leading to Mr. Nelson Ukoko allegedly emerging as the new President-General of the community.
NewsNet learnt that the postponement of the election by the Sapele Council deprived other candidates from participating in the process leaving only Mr. Nelson Ukoko.
Speaking to journalists, one of the candidates for the position of the President-General, Mr. Davidson Ameye expressed total dissatisfaction and utmost dismay at the manner in which the alleged process went at Ugborehen on Saturday.
Ameye described the “kangaroo election” which is capable of causing chaos in the community, unacceptable by the entire people of the community, a mere window dressing exercise and a process against the constitution of the Ugborehen as amended.
His words “I was not present at the selection following a security report after a security meeting by the Sapele local government and the interim committee and it was said that the exercise has been postponed because of security reasons that was why I wasn’t there”.
He added “after registration, collection of expression of interest form, we were asked to come for screening which we did; and surprisingly overnight we were told that my opponent Mr. Ukoko Nelson was picked as the President General and this is against the constitution of the community and I want to say clearly that the selection is not accepted by me”. “It is handpicking, I am not part of that kangoroo selection”.
Mr. Ameye while appealing to all his supporters to remain calm, asserted that the needful will be done as Ugborehen has no President General yet.
On his part, Mr. Nelson Ukoko one of the candidates from Okwikoro quarter of Ugborehen, said that on the 3rd of December, the Sapele Local Government Chairman, Hon. Eugene Inoaghan brought a security report that the election should be postponed.
According to him, “On Saturday December 5th, the election was held with security personnel from the army, police, SSS, DSS present to provide security after a letter was issued to the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa informing him about the election”.
Ukoko, who narrated how it all started, asserted that apart from Mr. Hope Oriavwhere, who is one of the candidates that stepped down for him, the rest candidates including Mr. Davison Ameye were disqualified based on their inability to meet up with the constitutional requirements.
He said that the Ugborehen constitution states that the immediate past Excos cannot contest until after three years which the elders council headed by the most senior man in the community, Pa. Jacob Ekpekpe have upheld due to the past Excos inability to render stewardship, failure to conduct AGM and bring meaningful development to the community.
Nelson Ukoko while insisting that he remains the duly elected President of the Ugborhen Community Development Committee, UCDC, urged the good people of the community to maintain peace, law and order as the people of the community have spoken in one voice and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom has been briefed on the issue.
He gave the assurance that it is a new dawn of prosperity for the good people of Ugborhen as his administration will run an all-inclusive government.
