The Delta State Government has declared as null and void the purported suspension of Chief James Asika Onwordi Ibori-Ubulu, the Onishe of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, by the traditional ruler of the kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Noah Chukwuka Akaeze, Agbogidi, Obi of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom.
The hovernment also nullified the recently conducted online election of the Ubulu-Uku Development Council (UDC), describing it as illegal and contrary to existing laws regulating community associations in the State.
The government’s position was made known during a peace and conflict resolution meeting convened by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Sir (Chief) Edwin Uzor, with the Ubulu-Uku Council of Chiefs (also known as the Obi-in-Council) and security agencies following petitions and counter-petitions arising from the crisis in Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, Aniocha South Local Government Area.
The government stated that the alleged suspension of Chief Asika did not follow due process as prescribed by law.
The state government also directed the Obi of Ubulu-Uku to return home from abroad where he currently lives.
It stated that the Obi can not be ruling his kingdom from abroad .
“The statutory architecture is clear. The power to suspend a traditional chief is not left at large in the hands of an individual traditional ruler. It is specifically vested in the Executive Council of the State subject to conditions prescribed by law.
“Where the Executive Council resolves that another authority should exercise that power, the law prescribes the manner in which that delegation must occur.
“Therefore, the suspension that was purportedly made by the Obi on Chief James Asika, Onishe of Ubulu-Uku is hereby declared null and void. Due process was not followed,” the government declared.
The state government cited Section 28, Sub-sections 1 to 6 of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Law, as well as the position already taken by the Office of the Director of Chieftaincy in the Governor’s Office, to support its decision.
It also warned uncles and relatives of the monarch to desist from interfering in the administration of the kingdom and to channel their advice to the monarch through proper means.
On the controversial UDC online election, it ruled that the exercise was in violation of the Delta State Regulation of Community Development Associations Law 2021 and the guidelines of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development.
“The Office of the Special Adviser has considered the circumstances surrounding the purported online election conducted to constitute the leadership of the Ubulu Development Council.
“The ggovernment’s osition is based principally on the Delta State Regulation of Community Development Association Law 2021 and on the facts presented concerning the conduct of the purported election without the involvement of Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development,” the official stated.
He posed the legal question as to whether an online election conducted internally without compliance with statutory regulations and ministry guidelines can validly produce an executive committee recognized under Delta State Law.
Consequently, it declared that “the online election that was said to be conducted cannot hold and it is null and void.”
The government further directed the Traditional Council working in consonance with the community to oorganise fresh, all-inclusive election which must be supervised and observed by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development.
“What that means is that a letter must be sent to the Ministry of Women Affairs, , Community and Social Development so that you agree on how the election would go. Nobody can conduct election on their own,” government emphasized.
The decision has put to rest months of tension in Ubulu-Uku over the leadership of the UDC and the status of the Onishe of Ubulu-Uku in the kingdom.
Responding, the Onishe of Ubulu-Uku, Chief James Asika Onwordi and the Ubulu-Uku Council of Chiefs (also known as the Obi-in-Council) and youth body said: “We have been on these issues for long and we are happy the government has settled this.
“We start by thanking God Almighty for a day like this.
We appreciate God because peace has finally returned to our community.
We are grateful to the Delta State Government.
We have had these issues for a long time.
Thank God the issues have been resolved.
Ignorance is not an excuse in law.
“We will continue on peace building in Ubulu-Uku Kingdom.
Our people will continue to be law abiding in the state. “
