Controversies Mares UPU Election: Omene Emerges as PG at his Residence

By Onitsha Shedrack, ———— December 3^rd, 2016 —————-

 

Controversies has continued to trail  the re-election of the Chief Joe Omene, as the President General of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU,  for another term amidst protest from different quarters including the Urhobo monarchs who urged delegates from their kingdom to stay off from the election.

The election which was slated to hold at the Urhobo Cultural Center, Uviamughe, Agbarho, didn’t hold there, following the sealing up of the venue by the police, delegates later relocated to the Mosogar residence of Chief Omene were the election was conducted.

Policemen drafted from the Ughelli Area Command at the center, averted a clash between youths who stormed the center at about 9a.m, some of who are demanding for the conduct of the election while others are seeking for the cancellation leading

It would be recalled that not satisfied by the delegate list for the election, some of the candidates and other stakeholders approach a High Court for a order to bar Chief Omene for contesting the election, when they allegedly failed to secure the nod of the court, some Urhobo youths mobilized to the venue of the election, in what they termed as “mission to rescue Urhobo.”

Frowning at the action of the police who prevented the breakdown of law and order, Chief Omene described the actions of the police as a shame and unwarranted interruption of the Urhobo peoples’ lawful assembly.

According to him; “after we took care of their inconveniences, by paying them what they asked for to provide security for the conduct of the election, it is such a pity that the police would allow themselves to be used in stopping the Urhobo people from using the Urhobo cultural center.

“According to the UPU constitution, I can extend my tenure for 2years with the sealing up of the UPU center but I said no, let me go and test my popularity.”

The election which was conducted by three of the five members Electoral Committee earlier set up by the National Executive Council, led by Engr Bobor following the resignation of as two of the members including General E. Obada and Mr. Mike Igini.

The result of the election announced by Engr Bobor showed that Chief Engr Joe Omene polled 374 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olorogun Moses Taiga who polls 178 votes while Prof Sam Idodje, came a distant third with 7 votes.

Those elected alongside Omene are: Jonathan Shakarho, 1st Deputy General; Chief Fred Sohwo, 2nd Deputy General, Chief Mrs Grace Usirare was returned unopposed as 3rd Deputy President General while Martins Mukoro, Mike Okenini and Rapheal Emecho would serve as Secretary General, Treasurer and Financial Secretary respectively.

Others are Chief Paul Milton Owhovoriole, National Legal Adviser of UPU, Barr Moses Segba, his deputy, Chief Duncan Ewheree as National Publicity Secretary, while Justice Iyasere emerged Deputy National Publicity Secretary.