Breaking: UPU Postpones 2019 NEC Election, Gives Reasons

By John Tega

Rising from a well attended emergency Urhobo National Congress on the 23rd of November, 2019, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), has resolved to postpone the election into the National Executive Council (NEC) (constitutionally fixed for first week of December 2019) for one year.

This decision, we learnt was taken upon the recommendation of the President General in consultation with the NEC.

In a press statement signed by Martin’s Ahweyevu Mukoro Esq., National Secretary, UPU and Chief (Engr.) Joe Orode Omene, JP, President General, UPU, the Urhobo socio-cultural group, said: “Pursuant to Article 9 (D) of the UPU Constitution, we have decided to postpone the election into the National Executive Council constitutionally fixed for first week of December 2019 for one year in the first instance. This became necessary as the Annual Urhobo National Congress in its emergency meeting was convinced that the turbulence of lack of unity in the Urhobo Nation since the last UPU election held in the first week of December 2016 according to the UPU Constitution and the purported election of a splinter National Executive Council held in January 2017 by a splinter group in violation of the Constitution.”

Continuing, UPU said that “the resultant litigation at the Federal High Court, Warri against the splinter group still lingers on without any resolution that can bring Urhobo Nation together under the same canopy.”

The press statement added: “This is a special reason and or expediency touching or concerning the overall well being and survival of the UPU and the Urhobo Nation for which the President-General in consultation with the National Executive Council made the recommendation for postponement.”

The press statement showed that the case at the Federal High Court has been adjourned to 19th February, 2020.

Continuing, UPU said: “The resolution of the crisis of unity of the UPU is crucial to the orderly and legitimate transfer of the leadership power to a succeeding National Executive Council. Consequent upon the postponement of the election due in the first week of December 2019 for one year, the National Executive Council of the UPU led by Chief Engr. Joe Orode Omene remains in office during the period of the postponement.”

UPU said the postponement is conditional and will be reviewed if either the court rules in the case filed by the PG of UPU Chief Engr Joe Omene against Chief Moses Taiga, who they said in their statement purportedly emerged from a strange and unconstitutional election held in January 2017 and organised by Chief V. E. Otomiewo or if there is a successful out-of-court resolution of the crisis engulfing the UPU by any of the patriotic Urhobo associations that have been working behind the scenes to enthrone peace and unity in the UPU.
UPU commended the group led by Prof. Onokerhoraye, the Urhobo Renaissance Group led by Prof. Hope Eghagha and another group led by Prof. Temi Akporhonor for the efforts they have made to resolve the crisis in the UPU.