A Delta State High Court sitting in Otor-Udu, has proclaimed the two parallel executive committees of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Delta State chapter as unconstitutional.
Trial judge, Justice C. Achilefu, gave the verdict in the suit by the leader of one of the groups, Benjamin Iwetan, urging the court to declare him as state chairman of HOSTCOM and restrain the defendants, Chief Alfred Bubor, Dr. Peter Ogedegbe, national chairman and state chairman respectively of the opposing faction from infringing on his tenure.
The judge held: “It is my view that from all I have said so far, the claimants (Iwetan and others) have not proved their case to the minimum standard required by law, they relied on exhibit ‘A’ but could not prove to this court that their appointment was done constitutionally in accordance with exhibit ‘A’ (Constitution of HOSTCOM).
“It is my view that from what I have said in this judgment that both the claimant and the defendant executive committee were not elected according to exhibit ‘A.’ It is hereby, ordered that Delta State HOSTCOM comprising both parties should go back and comply with the constitution of HOSTCOM, which is exhibit ‘A.
“The election of the claimant in 2009 and that of the defendant in 2013 were not done constitutionally. “Exhibit ‘A’ provides that, if for any unavoidable reason an election could not hold at the scheduled period, a caretaker committee of five members would be set up to direct the affairs of the house and tenure of the caretaker committee shall not exceed three months before the election is conducted.
“Second, an extension of office can be made by two-third majority of persons present at the annual general meeting if prevailing circumstance cannot allow election in the case of HOSTCOM, Delta State.”
