Youths of Kokodiagbene Community in the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State are set to elect a new set of executive leadership to pilot the affairs of the Kokodiagbene Youth Development Movement (KYDM) currently led by its President, Comrade Blessing Laide (also known as Egbengben).

The election conducted by the KYDM Electoral Committee chaired by a former youth president, Comrade Superior Adurumokumor, with Comrade Bako Igere as Secretary, and Comrade Happy Evene and Comrade Esther David as members, will hold Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in the community town hall.

Earlier, 18 aspirants vying to occupy various positions in the oil-rich Kokodiagbene Community youth body were screened on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

However, in another development after the screening exercise, among the two presidential candidates of Doutimi Prince Cousin and Doubra Jeremiah Timiyan, the latter stepped down from the race and threw his support behind the candidacy of the former, bringing the number of aspirants to 17.

It would be recalled that in the election that produced Comrade Laide as KYDM President, the duo had also participated as candidates in that keenly contested election.

In the 2026 election holding in Kokodiagbene Community, the current list of contesting 17 candidates include one presidential candidate, three vice presidential candidates, and three candidates for secretary position.

The positions of Public Relations Officer, Financial Secretary, and Provost are all contested for by two candidates each, while Assistant Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary both have a sole candidate.

Below are the list of candidates:

01) Doutimi Prince Cousin (President)

02)Gideon Okoromadu (Vice President)

03) Oweipade Eyebo, (Vice President)

04) Henry Aaron (Vice President)

05) Theresa Tolar (Secretary)

06) Felix Bekenawei (Secretary)

07) Felix Akoto (Secretary)

08) Tare Odogbo (Assistant Secretary)

09) Diamond Howel (P.R.O)

10) Etuemi Michael Emiko (P.R.O)

11) Christabel Eguare (Financial Secretary)

12) Princess Ukuli (Financial Secretary)

13) Victor Daniel (Asst Financial Secretary)

14) Felicia Laide (Treasurer)

15) Deborah Torudon (Treasurer)

16) Marvelous Igere (Provost) 

17) Tombra Pito (Provost)

The large turnout of contestants in the 2026 KYDM election has drawn commendation from stakeholders who see the development as a good sign of youths interest to participate in governance and their determination to be a part of the key decision making organ in the youth body.

As the election holds, attention has been shifted away from the presidential,  positions of President, Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Financial Secretary to the six other positions that are keenly contested for in a community made up of three family quarters namely Ebiabu, Ugeh, and Agugu.