By Bina Susan
National News – The Ughievwen Peace and Development Forum (UPDF) has accused former Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor, of allegedly interfering in the leadership affairs of Otu-Ughievwen Community, claiming his actions have contributed to the ongoing leadership crisis in the area.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr. John Ariemure, and Secretary, Comrade Emuejevoke Uvo, the group alleged that the crisis followed the Community Development Committee (CDC) election held on June 3, 2026, which was conducted after several previous attempts to hold a peaceful election were unsuccessful.
According to the forum, Engr. Augustine Garri emerged as the duly elected Chairman during the exercise. However, it alleged that some influential political figures within and outside Ughievwen Kingdom had continued to challenge the outcome for personal and political interests.
The group specifically accused Mrakpor, described as a former Attorney-General and the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, of backing Mr. Jacob Ogedegbe Bekederemor, whom it claimed is not an indigene of Otu-Ughievwen Community.
The forum further alleged that meetings involving Ogedegbe and his supporters had been held at Mrakpor’s residence in Edjophe, with the aim of imposing an alternative leadership on the community. It also claimed that the alleged interference was politically motivated and capable of worsening the security situation in Otu-Ughievwen.
Some of the victims of the attacks
The UPDF expressed concern that the dispute could threaten the peace of the community if not urgently addressed by relevant authorities.
The group called on security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to intervene and ensure that the outcome of the June 3 CDC election is respected.
It maintained that Engr. Augustine Garri remains the choice of the majority of the community and warned against any attempt to impose another leadership.
The forum also urged all parties involved to pursue lawful and peaceful means of resolving the dispute, while calling on political actors to refrain from actions capable of escalating tensions in the community.
Below is the full statement (unedited)
MRAKPOR THE ARCHITECT OF OTU-UGHIEVWEN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP CRISIS
It is no longer news that the once peaceful Otu-Ughievwen Community has been distorted through the current leadership tussle.
It would be recall that the election for Community Development Committee (CDC) was conducted to elect a new Chairman and the other positions on 3rd June, 2026 after making several attempts to conduct peaceful election failed as a result unusual and deliberate interference from external quarters for their selfish interest to the detriment of the majority’s interest of the community.
Available records and findings from different quarters revealed Engr. Augustine Garri emerged victorious(Winner) however, reports indicate that some prominent leaders within and outside Ughievwen Kingdom with selfish interest political interest, including a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney- General in the state and current factional PDP Governorship Candidate has been secretly sponsoring some miscreants and thugs against the will of the Otu-Ughievwen people thereby, supporting one Mr. Jacob Ogedegbe Bekederemor (Aziza) a native of Kiagbodo and Aladja communities of Burutu and Udu LGAs.
Further investigation reveals that only a the deaf and dumb do not know the unarguable and undeniable criminal records of Mr. Jacob Ogedegbe Bekederemor hence his violent approach to this matter.
This development has raised concerns among people of Ughievwen Kingdom, Otu-Ughievwen Community and across the state especially for a Governorship Candidate of once popular party(PDP) and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) to be secretly supporting an Ijaw man to be the Chairman of the Headquarters of Ughievwen to the extent he decided to be host the said Mr. Ogedegbe Bekederemor and his numerous thugs and Cultists in his Edjophe residence as several meetings have been reportedly held there.
More troubling is his greed and desire to deliberately impose the rejected candidate and his Executive on the peaceful Otu-Ughievwen Community in order for them to support his selfish political ambition and to continuously unrest in the community.
Mrakpor’s interest on the matter is quite questionable as he now organize meetings to perfect his plan to escalate the current leadership crisis with several casualties, this no doubt is driven by his attempt to ensure the ruling party and the His Exellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori’s election do not come out successfully in Otu-Ughievwen and other communities in Ughievwen.
We urge all stakeholders to as a matter of urgency pay attention to the current leadership crisis in Otu-Ughievwen and ensure that Peter Mrakpor is held responsible for any further breach of peace and security in the community as he his desire to deliberately impose the said Mr. Ogedegbe Bekederemor (Aziza) as Chairman of Otu-Ughievwen is purely political and selfish.
He is further, advised to resist from blackmailing other key stakeholders to go against the will of the people of Otu-Ughievwen hence, he should be better influence Mr. Ogedegbe as Chairman of his Edjophe Community instead of Otu-Ughievwen Community as further attempts would be met with extreme legal and communal resistance as the community has generally chosen her leader in the person of Engr. Augustine Garri hence no amount of provocation, harassment and attacks would change our unanimous decision.
Signed:
Mr. John Ariemure, Chairman, Ughievwen Peace and Development Forum (UPDF).
Comrade Emuejevoke Uvo, Secretary.
