The coastal oil-rich community of Kokodiagbene in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, is set to elect a new executive leadership to take over the reins of affairs of the community from the current executive council as led by Comr. Pedro Bekenawei by January 2025.

The election which is scheduled to hold on Thursday (October 31) is coming after a general meeting that held in the community town hall that was attended by all stakeholders comprising elders, chiefs, women and youths on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Among the proceedings of the general meeting include the preparation for the annual Amasuo-Ugeh Festival billed for December 22, recent educational and Infrastructural developments for n the community, the pronouncement of new rules on parents in relation to the education of their wards, security and welfare issues, and the forthcoming election among others.

Sir Godfrey Pondi, the General Manager of Operations in Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), named as chair of the Amasuo-Ugeh Fundraising Committee by the chairman, it was learnt had already pledged a good sum of money to Kickstart the fundraising.

On the Amasuo-Ugeh Festival, a former chairman, Chief Sheriff Mulade, pledged to donate 100 of the official wrappers chosen for this year's festival, while another former chairman, who is currently the Special Assistant on Special Duties to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Amb. Hon. Uyadonghan Powede (JP) has booked Izon highlife musician, Alfred Izonebi popularly known as JKing, for musical entertainment.

On the election holding on Thursday, candidates that are contesting were admonished by stakeholders to put the interest of the community above self and to desist from unwholesome practices that could jeopardise the existing peace. 

It was learnt that among the contested positions, those of the chairman and the secretary are the keenly contested ones with about eight persons jostling for the position of chairman, while that of the secretary is unclear as at the time of filing this report.

It was also learnt that another meeting will be held in the community town hall on Thursday before the commencement of the election. Moreover, it was learnt that the identities remain unknown of the 15 elders, four women and six youths who are the delegates that will determine the newly elected executives, a move that is perceived to prevent undue influence from candidates.

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