Odidi Reaffirms Gbenekama-Led Executive, Urges Oil Firms to Ignore Okirikpa’s Fake Claims

•Condemns Attempt to Disrupt Port Harcourt Meeting

• Rejects Okrikpa’s Tenure Elongation Bid As Warri Chairman Backs New Leadership

By Destiny Peter, Warri

Leaders, elders, women and youths of Odidi Community in Warri South Local Government Area in a press conference have reaffirmed the Comrade Truston Gbenekama-led executive as the authentic and only recognized administration of the oil-bearing community, declaring that the Prince Preye Okrikpa-led administration expired on April 28, 2026.

In a statement issued from No. 26 Osamede Street, Okumagba Avenue, Warri, the community said there is “no other executive in Odidi Community” and urged operators of OML 42 — including NEPL/Neconde, ICHI/CEPE and NPUREONE Management — to ignore any publication or move by the immediate past executive led by “Mr. Prince Preye Okrikpa” seeking tenure elongation. “Odidi Community is peaceful and is committed to providing the enabling environment for smooth operations in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s Renewed Hope Agenda for production increase,” the statement read.

The community recalled a 2016 judgment which it said does not permit tenure elongation, noting that the Okrikpa administration was itself a beneficiary of that ruling. It accused the former executive of traveling to Port Harcourt to disrupt the Global Freedom to Operate GFTO renewal and renegotiation process for OML 42, warning that such desperation is “becoming unbearable” and could cause a breakdown of law and order.

Odidi leadership at the press conference called on the Federal and Delta State governments, the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services, and Operation Delta Safe to caution Prince Preye Okrikpa and his cohorts. It also debunked any attempt to drag OML 42 operators into recognizing a “purported self-imposed leadership” whose tenure, it insisted, ended long ago.

The statement gained weight with the intervention of Warri South-West Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni. According to Odidi leaders, Oromoni met with security agencies on April 27, 2026 over the tenure elongation dispute and, through the Secretary to the Local Government, recognized the Comrade Gbenekama trustee-led administration. “Therefore all authorities would and relate and cooperate with Comrade Truston Gbenekama-led administration,” the community stated.

Odidi assured OML 42 operators of a peaceful atmosphere for operations and urged all stakeholders to deal only with the Gbenekama executive going forward. The statement was signed “For and on behalf of Odidi Community” by Comr. Truston Gbenekama, Chairman and Amb Bene Mamamu, secretary.