The leaders, elders, women, and youths of Odidi Federated Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have reaffirmed the leadership of Comrade Truston Gbenekama as "the authentic and recognized administration" of the oil-rich community that plays host to OML-42 among other operators in the area.

The reaffirmation was conveyed at a press briefing attended by stakeholders of Odidi community on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

In a statement issued and signed by the Chairman, Comr. Gbenekama, and Secretary, Chief Bene Youkore Mamamu, they urged the general public and operators in the oil industry to ignore the self-imposed leadership of the former chairman, Prince Preye Okrikpa, as well as assured companies operating in the community of a peaceful atmosphere.

The statement reads, "We, the leaders, elders, women, and youths of Odidi community reaffirmed Comrade Truston Gbenekama-led executives as the authentic and recognized administration. That there is no parallel executive in Odidi community. That Prince Preye Okrikpa-led administration expired on the 28th April, 2026.

"We urge NEPL/NECONDE JV and JCHL/CEPEJ to ignore any attempt through the disguise of publications and other means for tenure elongation by the immediate past executive led by Mr. Prince Preye Okrikpa, whose tenure ended on 28th April 2026.

"Odidi community is peaceful and is committed to providing enabling environment for smooth operations in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR Renewed Hope Agenda for oil production increase.

"Odidi community wish to assure and guarantee the operators of OML-42 a peaceful atmosphere and use this medium to debunk any attempts by dragging the OML-42 oil field operated by NEPL/NECONDE JV management with her partners to kindly ignore any purported self-imposed leadership led by Prince Okrikpa, whose tenure ended long ago.

"Odidi community has no room for tenure allegation based on the content judgment of 2016 which the past administration of Prince Preye Okrikpa is also a beneficiary," they stated.

The leadership further called on the government and security agencies to caution Okrikpa and his cohorts in order to avoid breakdown of law and order in the community, stressing that his desperation to illegally remain in office as chairman despite the expiration of his tenure on April 28, 2026, is becoming unbearable.

"We call on the federal government and state government and all relevant security agencies, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security Service and operation Delta State to caution Prince Preye Okrikpa and his cohorts to avoid breakdown of law and order as the desperation of the past administration is becoming unbearable as they travelled to Port-Harcourt to disrupt Global Freedom To Operate (GFTO) renewal and renegotiation process.

"The local government Chairman of Warri South-West local government area of Delta State, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, who also intervened in the tenure elongation issue in the presence of security agencies of the state on the 27th April 2026, has also recognized the Comrade Gbenekama Truston led administration through the Secretary to the Local Government.

"Therefore, all authorities should accord, relate and cooperate with Comrade Truston Gbenekama led administration," they demanded.

Other stakeholders including Hon. Friday Dengha, Mr. Faith Mamamu, Madam Derebi Okrikpa, and Meneko Kennedy Friday (Youth President of Odidi youth) all towed the decision of the general assembly and appealed on security agencies as well as the relevant authorities to intervene before the issue gets out of hand.

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