Uvwie Council Boss Urged To Follow Due Process Over EDC Succession Issues To Avert Crisis In Ekpan

Ogheneruona Tejiri, Effurun

Hon. Anthony Ofoni, Chairman, Uvwie Local Government Council has been called upon to follow due constitutional process for the election and inauguration of chairman for Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) to avert crisis in Ekpan community.

This call was made by Ekpan Stakeholders Groups (ESG) in a statement signed by Dcn. Matthew Emewakeme and Mr. Andrew Akpojaro, President and Secretary respectively of the group made available to the Reformeronline in Effurun, they frowned at the manner Chief Ofoni is handling the issue surrounding the leadership of the Development Committee.

The Stakeholders called on the Uvwie Council boss to completely hands off the issue of election and subsequent inauguration of a new executive.

The group condemned the action of Chief Ofoni who allegedly presided over a meeting where he inaugurated one Victory Nanakparoh for a second term in office as the chairman of Ekpan Development Committee (EDC), they said that the Council chairman acted in error as his action contravene the Ekpan Development Committee(EDC) Constitution 2012 (Amended/ Reviewed).

According to the Stakeholders, “the inauguration of one Victory Nanakparoh for a second term in office as the chairman of Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) clearly three months to the end of his unconstitutional one year extension of his expired first term was an error of judgement by the Council Chairman, who also failed to invite or involve major stakeholders in Ekpan.

“The Chairman’s action contravene the Ekpan Development Committee (EDC) Constitution 2012 Amended/ Reviewed which stipulates that nobody is ever allowed to hold the office of chairman of the EDC for a second term.

“The Chairman’s action could lead to disruption of peace, unity and harmony of Ekpan Community.”

Stakeholders then called on Hon. Ofoni to follow due constitutional process in the leadership issue of Ekpan Community by allowing the Ighuvwie, critical stakeholders in Ekpan Community listed in the Amended/Reviewed 2012 Constitution to be part of the election and subsequent inauguration that is expected to hold August 1, 2026 to avert any crisis.

They added, “we are calling on the Council Chairman to toe the path of reason and yield to this wise advice in the interest of the peace in Uvwie Kingdom.”