By Tobore Akpososo
The Union of Udu Communities (UUC), the leadership organ for all 32 traditional Udu communities of Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has scheduled Saturday March 8, 2025 for general elections into the Executive Committee of the body with a charge for all aspirants to the various positions to play by the rules for a free, fair and credible election.
Unveiling the election time table at a general meeting of UUC with Udu Communities’ leaders, President General of the Union of Udu Communities, Hon Chief Peter Okagbare Uviejitobor disclosed that sales of forms for the election would commence on Wednesday February 5, 2025 while campaigns will run from February 19 to March 6, 2025 after the necessary screening of the aspirants before the polls will hold on Saturday March 8, 2028.
According to the President General, the positions to be contested for include President General, 1st Vice President General, 2nd Vice President General, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Publicity Secretary and Assistant Publicity Secretary. Other positions are Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Assistant Financial Secretary, 1st Legal Adviser, 2nd Legal Adviser, Welfare Officer, Assistant Welfare Officer, Auditor 1, Auditor 2, Spokesman, and Assistant Spokesman.
Chief Uviejitobor added that all seven ruling houses in Udu Kingdom including Ohworhu, Okporua, Orhuwhorun, Adadja, Owhrode, Uloho and Ovwian will also elect one Ex-officio each to represent them in the Executive Committee to make a total of 25 member strong Exco.
According to Chief Peter Okagbere Uviejitobor who is the Honourable Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Delta State, those qualified to run for the listed offices include any man or woman who hail from one of the 32 Udu Communities either paternally or maternally, he or she must be resident in one of the Udu Communities, be of good health, sound mind and of impeccable character, must not belong to any secret society/cult or any related proscribed society, and has not been found guilty of any crime/misdemeanour in recent years.
’’While the minimum educational qualification for all positions is SSCE, aspirants to the position of president general must be a holder of a University degree or HND holder. The Auditors’ qualification shall be a minimum of OND in Accounting or a Related Discipline and the Legal Advisers shall have at least 5 years post call to bar experience’’, he said.
He disclosed further that delegates to the election shall include 5 delegates per Community from the 32 Udu traditional Communities consisting of the Community President, Secretary, Youth Leader, One Ewheya (member of the women folks) and One Elder making a total of 160 delegates from the communities.
‘’5 Delegates shall also represent each of the diaspora branch of the UUC including Asaba, Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Yenagoa making a total of 25 Delegates. All 28 members of Udu Traditional Council except the Ovie and Otota are also delegates besides 7 Chiefs from the body of Udu Chiefs and 5 Delegates from Ufuoma-Udu Association. The total number of delegates for the election therefore stands at 225’’, Uviejitobor declared.
He emphasized that the ‘’election shall be by the Open Secret ballot, the winner shall emerge by simple majority, results shall be declared and winners sworn in immediately same day’’, he added.
Representatives of the various communities including the presidents, secretaries and youth leaders expressed satisfaction with the time table and guidelines, which they noted were in line with the UUC constitution. Speaker after speaker commended the transparency of the election umpire, hoping for a successful election to put Udu on the path of progress, peace and harmony.
Present at the briefing were Executive Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode and other members of the UUC caretaker Committee including Olorogun Matthew Ogheneovo, Secretary of UUC, High Chief Austin Lafua, Treasurer, Mr Midwest Wetah, Spokesman, Comrade Joseph Eyovwerhuvwu, PRO, Chief Joseph Tefue, Apostle Ibru Tetebe, Hon Eki Afuevure and Pa Daniel Rioka, members.
The 32 Udu Traditional Communities include Otor-Udu, Owhrode, Erhiephihor, Ovworhokpokpor, Oghior, Ogbe-Udu, Ukpiovwin, Okolor-Waterside, Okolor Inland, Ubogo, Ugbisi, Obubu, Emadadja, Ekrota and Ukperheren. Others are Egini, Ujevwu, Egiegi, Oleri, Orhuwhorun, Igbogidi, Okpaka, Opete, Enerhen, Owhase, Ekete Inland, Ekete Waterside, and Ovwian. Other Udu communities expected to participate in the election are Aladja, Ayama, Epame and Ikperha.
