JUST IN: Otughiewen Community Leadership Distances Self From Alleged Conference Postponement, Urges Residents to Remain Calm, Peaceful

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

The leadership of the Otughiewen Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State has distanced itself from a public notice announcing the postponement of a community conference, insisting that the publication was issued without lawful authority.

The statement was jointly signed by Jacob Ogedegbe, Duly Elected Executive Chairman of Otughiewen Community, and Emmanuel Onosigho, Secretary of the Otughiewen Community Executive Council.

As according to the statement issued on Saturday, the duly elected Executive Chairman of the community, Mr. Jacob Ogedegbe, said the Executive Council had become aware of a publication circulated by Engr. Augustine Uwedjojevwe Garri and others, in which Garri described himself as the Executive Chairman of the Otughiewen Community and purportedly postponed the community conference earlier scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Ogedegbe maintained that Garri is not the duly elected Executive Chairman of the community and therefore lacks the authority to issue directives or make public announcements on behalf of the Otughiewen Community. He reaffirmed that his Executive Council derives its mandate from the people of the community.

According to the statement, Ogedegbe said that upon receiving information about the planned conference, he promptly alerted relevant security authorities at both the state and local government levels. He stated that the authorities intervened after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the proposed meeting and the absence of what he described as a proper legal and legitimate basis for the conference, in order to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.

The community chairman further argued that it was misleading for Garri to claim he had postponed the conference, stressing that an individual without a lawful mandate to convene or administer the affairs of the community could not validly exercise such powers.

Reaffirming his commitment to peace and due process, Ogedegbe assured residents that his administration would not encourage violence or confrontation. He emphasized that disputes relating to community leadership should be resolved through lawful and peaceful means rather than intimidation or provocation.

He also appealed to all sons and daughters of the Otughiewen Community, particularly youths, elders and supporters, to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, urging them not to take the law into their own hands. He expressed confidence in the ongoing legal processes and the intervention of relevant authorities, while advising members of the public to disregard what he described as the misleading publication.

The statement attached:

OTUGHIEWEN COMMUNITY
Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State
PUBLIC NOTICE/REJOINDER: PURPORTED POSTPONEMENT OF OTUGHIEWEN COMMUNITY CONFERENCE

The attention of the duly elected Executive Council of the Otughiewen Community has been drawn to a publication circulated by Engr. Augustine Uwedjojevwe Garri and others, wherein he purported, in the capacity of “Executive Chairman of the Otughiewen Community,” to postpone the Otughiewen Community Conference earlier scheduled to hold today, Saturday, 11 July 2026.

For the avoidance of doubt and to properly inform the general public, Engr. Augustine Uwedjojevwe Garri is not the duly elected Executive Chairman of the Otughiewen Community and lacks the authority to act, issue directives or make public announcements in that capacity on behalf of the Community.

I, Jacob Ogedegbe, remain the duly elected Executive Chairman of the Otughiewen Community, with my Executive Council deriving its mandate from the people of the Otughiewen Community.
Upon receiving information concerning the proposed Community Conference scheduled for 9:00 a.m. today, I immediately notified the appropriate security authorities at both the State and Local Government levels.

The relevant authorities, having considered the circumstances surrounding the proposed conference and the absence of a proper legal and legitimate basis for proceeding with the same in the manner contemplated, appropriately intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

It is therefore misleading for the embattled and self-acclaimed chairman to create the impression that he validly exercised the powers of an Executive Chairman to “postpone” the conference. A person who lacks a lawful mandate to convene, control or superintend the affairs of the Community cannot arrogate to himself the authority to postpone a Community Conference.

As the duly elected Executive Chairman of the Otughiewen Community, I remain committed to peace, due process and the preservation of law and order. I shall not permit myself or my supporters to be drawn into any violent confrontation. While no individual or group has a monopoly of force, the leadership of the Community firmly believes that disputes concerning community administration must be resolved through lawful and peaceful means and not through intimidation, provocation or violence.

I therefore call on all sons and daughters of the Otughiewen Community, particularly our youths, elders and supporters, to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding. Nobody should take the law into his or her hands.
We have placed our confidence in the appropriate authorities and the due process of law.

We shall patiently await the outcome of the lawful processes already activated and shall continue to act in the overriding interest, peace and unity of the Otughiewen Community.
The public is accordingly advised to disregard the misleading impression created by the said publication.

Peace must prevail in Otughiewen Community.

Signed:
JACOB OGEDEGBE
Duly Elected Executive Chairman

Emmanuel Onosigho
Secretary
Otughiewen Community Executive Council
11th July 2026