By EgbemaVoice,
Prominent traditional chiefs, youth leaders, and stakeholders of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom in Warri have openly disassociated themselves from a press conference held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, describing it as unauthorized and lacking the blessing of the kingdom’s traditional institution. The controversial briefing followed the ward delineation recommended for Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The purported press conference, which took place in Warri, was led by Hon. Matthew Poko Opuoru, a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly and the current Special Adviser on Environment to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Delineation refers to the process of dividing or mapping out geographical areas into constituencies, wards, or polling units for electoral purposes. According to INEC, this is to ensure fair representation and efficient management of elections across the country. The electoral body had, last Friday, unveiled the proposed delineated wards and polling units, following a Supreme Court judgment.
Addressing journalists today, leaders of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom expressed shock and displeasure, making it clear that the views expressed at the Tuesday briefing do not reflect the official position of the kingdom.
Chief John Edgar Eranvor, the Uhoho of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, opened the press interaction by stating that the previous day’s conference was held without authorization from the kingdom’s leadership. “The kingdom remains united. The political class remains united. There is a structure of leadership, and they acted in contradiction to that structure. The views and opinions expressed by Hon. Matthew Poko Opuoru at that press conference do not represent Okere-Urhobo Kingdom,” he said.
Chief Eranvor noted that the kingdom is still carefully reviewing the documents presented by INEC and has not reached a formal position. “At the appropriate time, after due consultation, we will inform the public. But until then, any reaction outside the structure is null and void,” he added.
Also speaking, Chief Sylvester Femi Okumagba, the Owena of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, called on the public to disregard the press conference, stating that the individuals who organized it acted without the mandate of the kingdom.
“If Okere-Urhobo Kingdom wants to make any pronouncement, it will come directly from the monarch or the President-General. Those who went to that conference did not do so with our consent. We suspect political sponsorship behind their actions, but the unity of the kingdom cannot be compromised,” he said.
He emphasized the need to maintain peace and warned against political interference.
Chief Frank Okolobe, the Oguhwie of Otor-Orene, described the controversial press conference as “an act of sycophancy.”
He stated that Okere-Urhobo Kingdom has a respected hierarchy and due process that must be followed before making public statements. “We have our ways. Nothing goes out without palace approval. To listen to unauthorized individuals is to disregard the authority of the palace,” he said.
Representing the youth, Hon. Eboh Okpako Elvis, Youth President of the Kingdom, noted that INEC had only just presented preliminary documents and the process remains ongoing. “There is a seven-day window still open for objections. We are studying the documents carefully and have not exhausted the lawful avenues available to us,” he said.
He condemned the premature press conference as a misrepresentation of the kingdom’s position. “We were shocked to learn about the press briefing. It was not authorized by the kingdom, and the public must disregard it,” he stated, reaffirming the kingdom’s commitment to a peaceful and lawful approach.
Chief Lawrence J. Akpoveso, the Atapiti of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom and a member of the delineation committee, confirmed his presence at the press conference but explained he was unaware of its full intent. “I was misled to believe it was a resolution of the kingdom. On realizing it was not, I had to make this clarification. I stand with the council’s decision to maintain peace and follow due process,” he said.
He emphasized that the delineation exercise was a federal initiative and should not be politicized at the local level.
Present at the press interaction were other prominent leaders including Chief Victor Amerhovwe David, Ekokota of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom; Chief Louis O. Eboh, Aghogho of the Kingdom; Florence Ighorue, Chairlady of Egweya; Comrade Efe Oboggen, Vice President; Efe Odili David, Task Force Chairman; and Patrick Jessah, Treasurer. All voiced their alignment with the palace and distanced themselves from the unauthorized briefing.
In conclusion, the kingdom reaffirmed that only the monarch and President-General are authorized to speak on behalf of the Okere-Urhobo people, emphasizing that any attempt to bypass this authority will be firmly resisted.
Against its earlier stance, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the conduct of primaries by political parties. The commission made the adjustments on Friday after a meeting with Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), an umbrella body for the 18 registered political parties in Nigeria. The deadline has been postponed till June 9, an extension by six days from June 3 it earlier fixed for the activities. Before the latest development, the IPAC had requested for an extension of the deadline by at least 37 days more, a move the INEC on at least three different fora opposed. “I hereby reiterate the position of the Commission that there will be no review of the timelines. There are so many inter-related activities that are associated with the timelines which must be carried out. “Any review to extend the timeline for one activity will affect other activities and put unnecessary pressure on political parties and the Commission. This will ultimately result in more complications than what the extension seeks to achieve. Therefore, the Commission will not review the timelines,” the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, reiterated two weeks ago. However, bowing to pressure from the party, Mr Yakubu, in a statement released on Friday night, said an extension of the date would not hurt its schedule of activities. As explained by the chairman, the newly approved six-day extension will afford the parties to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare the list of candidates and upload their affidavits on the commission’s portal. He said the extension covers political parties who have not conducted their primaries. “However, based on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election, the parties have now pleaded with the Commission to use the 6 days between 4th and 9th June 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal. The Commission did not schedule any specific activity during this period. The idea is to simply give parties time to compile the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates before uploading the same to the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal from 10th – 17th June 2022. “The Commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct. However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The Commission will not monitor already concluded primaries,” Mr Yakubu explained. He noted some political parties’ reluctance to submit their nominees for the training on the use of the INEC portal despite the commission’s provision to train four officials from each of the 18 political parties for the same purpose
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