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  • Ughelli North APC leaders unite, pass confidence vote on Tinubu, Oborevwori

    Ughelli North APC leaders unite, pass confidence vote on Tinubu, Oborevwori

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, on Friday held a unity meeting at Evwreni, with a resolve to promote peace, cooperation, and strategic alignment with the party’s leadership at the state and national levels.

    The meeting which was first of its kind since the movement of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC fold was among others, aimed at properly integrating new members and realign the party for victory in future elections.

    Hosted by the founding leader of the APC in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, OON, the meeting also saw a confidence vote passed on President Bola Tinubu and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborewori.

    The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by Professor Sam Iboje and seconded by Hon. Samuel Mariere, and received unanimous support from all leaders present.

    Delta APC chairman Elder Omeni Sobotie, described the meeting as a turning point of politics in the local government and the state.

    “Today marks the end of violence in Ughelli North politics. When a group of people are united, nothing can stop them. We are now united, and nothing can stop us.” He emphasized the party’s guiding principle of equal opportunity for all. “In APC, your rights are determined by your input—not how long you’ve been here. Everyone has a place, and the party will support you to grow,” he said.

    Elder Sobotie also noted the significance of the event’s peaceful atmosphere, calling it a divine signal of favor. “When God is with you, He compels all circumstances to cooperate with you. That’s what we are seeing today,” he said, to applause.

    In his address, Olorogun Emerhor underscored the strategic purpose of the unity gathering, saying, “After the 2023 election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t get 25 percent in Delta. That was painful. But he has not turned his back on us. He considers Delta part of his constituency. His wife is from here. And he has supported this unity effort from the very top.”

    He further credited Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for helping to stabilize the political space in the state. “The crisis-ridden APC is a thing of the past. We now speak with one voice, and we know our leader,” he added.

    In their goodwill message new APC entrants such as Elder Terry Noah, Engr. Christabel Obiuvwevbie, Chief George Oyefie, Hon. Onoriode Aguofure all pledged their support to the party. 

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    According to Terry Noah the new members of the APC are coming wholeheartedly into the party, even as he commended the founding leader Emehor for building the party in the state.

    On her part, Engr. Obiuvwevbie cited Psalm 133:1 in celebrating the spirit of unity: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.”

    A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation and adoption of an eight-point communiqué, for the unity and functionality of the APC in Ughelli North and across Delta State. 

    Some key resolutions adopted at the meeting include: a collective resolve to walk in unity under the state leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori; affirmation of joint party leadership under the State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, founding leader Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Rt. Hon. Festus Agas and Chief Terry Noah and a declaration that there are no “old” or “new” APC members, all members are equal and entitled to the same privileges and opportunities amongst others.

  • Comedy appointment with Mc Obaro holds in Ughelli on Good Friday

    Comedy appointment with Mc Obaro holds in Ughelli on Good Friday

    Top comedians from across Nigeria are set to light up the city of Ughelli with laughter and excitement as the much-anticipated show, Comedy Appointment with Mc Obaro (Ughelli Version), takes centre stage on Good Friday, April 17, 2025.

    The event, which will hold at Fisata Hotel, Ughelli, is being headlined by renowned Master of Ceremony Obaro Okpalefe, popularly known as MC Obaro. 

    It promises to be a night of premium entertainment, rib-cracking jokes, and unforgettable performances.

    The highly anticipated event, organised by Ojeki Integrated Services, promises an unforgettable night of fun, humour, and entertainment. 

    Comedy lovers are already buzzing with excitement as the show boasts a star-studded lineup featuring Maleke, Mc Edo Pickin, Mc Casino, Young Elder, Mc Passion, I Go Dye, and several other notable acts.

    The brain behind the event, Ojo Osahon Hopkins, popularly known as Legendary Ojeki said  “We are bringing the best of comedy to Ughelli. This is not just a show, it’s an experience, Our goal is to create a platform that entertains, uplifts, and unites people through laughter.”

    Since 2019, Ojo has been committed to reshaping the entertainment industry in Nigeria, especially in Edo and Delta States. 

    Through Ojeki Integrated Services, he has successfully hosted over ten major events aimed at empowering local talent and inspiring young people.

    “Entertainment is not just about fun. It’s a tool for change,” Ojo said. “When people laugh, they forget their worries, and when young talents are given a platform, they find hope.”

    The event will be hosted by the ever-charismatic Mc Obaro, who is known for his energetic stage presence and witty humour. 

    According to the organisers, guests should expect a blend of stand-up comedy, skits, music, and surprise performances.

    Speaking on his broader vision, Ojo revealed plans to expand into filmmaking. “We’re working on launching Ojeki TV on YouTube. It will showcase inspiring films like Lost Soul and Love, which tell stories that reflect real-life challenges and triumphs,” he explained.

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    For Ojo, storytelling is at the heart of his work. “Comedy, like film, is about connecting with people. It’s about telling our stories in a way that makes people feel seen and heard.”

    With tickets already selling fast, the “Comedy Appointment with Mc Obaro (Ughelli Version)” is shaping up to be one of the biggest comedy shows in the region this year. Fans are encouraged to come early and be part of what promises to be an electrifying night.

    “This is more than just a show—it’s a celebration of talent and community,” Ojo added. “We invite everyone to come and laugh with us.”

    The show kicks off at 6 p.m. sharp. For ticket information and reservations, guests can contact the organisers via social media or visit Fisata Hotel in Ughelli.

  • Former IYC President escapes herdsmen’s bullets in Delta

    Former IYC President escapes herdsmen’s bullets in Delta

    Former President of the Ijaw Youths Council ( IYC ), Dr Chris Ekiyor, Wednesday evening reportedly escaped death narrowly when suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly riddled his car with bullets along the East/West Road, around Evwreni Community, Ughelli council area of Delta state.

    Ekiyor, who was also a commissioner in the Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan administration in the state, was said to be on his way to his Patani country home when two armed men, believed to be Fulani herdsmen, emerged suddenly and took aim at his car.

    It was gathered that the former Ijaw youth leader managed to escape the scene of the attack because he was driving a bullet proof vehicle. The attack occurred between 6:30pm to 6:40pm.

    Describing his experience to journalists during a briefing in Patani Thursday evening, Ekiyor expressed strong conviction that his attackers were Fulani herdsmen, explaining that his experience with people in different parts of the country is vivid and could not have mistaken the identities of his attackers.

    “I was returning to Patani from Asaba when around Evwreni, just outside Ughelli town, I came under attack by these men dressed in the attires of northerners, they brought out their guns and started shooting at my car. The bullets took out two of my tires.

    “I managed to escape to one of the communities around. The nearest police roadblock had been deserted and neither was I able to get any cooperation from the DPO of the area, who said there was no vehicle to deploy”, he explained.

    He, however called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly and seriously tackle the worsening Fulani herdsmen violence across the country before it consumes the country, charging him to look beyond partisan and ethnic interests.

    Also reacting to the development,  factional President of the IYC, Eric Omare, in a statement signed by the body’s spokesman, Henry Iyalla, charged President Buhari to act fact, noting that the security situation across the country is already spiraling out of control.

    “The attack on Dr. Ekiyor, a former Commissioner in Delta State is just a reflection of the general security situation in different parts of the country. It would be recalled that prominent Nigerians such as Chief Olu Falae, travellers along the Benin to Lagos road and other parts of the country have been subjects of attacks in recent times.

    “The security situation in all parts of the country is degenerating and calls for urgent actions by the federal government to arrest the situation. The gradual arms buildup in different parts of the country towards the 2019 elections is worrisome and make lead to a full blown war if urgent steps are not taken.

    “It is totally unacceptable to private citizens from a section of the country to have access to guns and using it to main and kill others without commiserate response by the federal government.

    “The IYC therefore call on President Buhari and the relevant security agencies to take drastic steps to stop the slide in the nation’s security before the situation get out of hand and result in unnecessary war in Nigeria”, he said.

  • Suspected gunmen kidnap wine dealer in Ughelli

    SUSPECTED gunmen at the weekend kidnapped a wine dealer identified as Mr. Amos Esemudje at his store on Post Office Road in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    He was said to have been kidnapped under a heavy rain. The kidnapers went as customers who wanted to buy some wine in a large quantity.

    An eyewitness said: “The kidnappers came with a black jeep and a Honda car, entered the store like customers with a view to buy drinks in large quantity. As they entered, they brought out their guns, bundled him into the jeep and drove off.”

    A family source  said the kidnappers walked  the man into their waiting vehicle barefoot under the heavy rain and left with assorted wines from the store.

    The family source said the incident has been reported at the Ughelli ‘A’ division and the police were on top the situation.

    The source said: “Papa’s store was locked by sympathisers after the kidnapper had left the scene and his vehicle was not touched.”

  • Bush burning caused pipeline explosion in Delta – JTF

    The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), said Monday that the recent pipeline explosion that occurred around Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli, Delta State, was caused by bush burning.

    Clarifying the incident, JTF’s Deputy Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt. Com. Thomas Otuji, said heat from the bush burning ruptured the pipeline belonging to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    Otuji asked members of the public to disregard a statement from a militant group, Greenland Justice Mandate (GJM), which claimed responsibility for the incident.

    He said: “There was no attack on the pipeline. What happened was that bush burning ignited an old pipeline”.

    The pipeline, which was said to be a few meters away from Otorogu Gas Plant, a multimillion naira project,  exploded and went up in flames at about 6.40am on Sunday.

  • Two killed in Ughelli ‘cult’ clash

    Two killed in Ughelli ‘cult’ clash

    Two suspected cultists were killed on Sunday night at Ekuigbo, on the outskirts of Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, during a shootout between two rival cult groups.

    The shootout, it was learnt, started at 9pm near Tozak Hotel, on the Ughelli-Warri Expressway in Ekuigbo.

    The victims were said to have died on the spot.

    Colleagues of one of the dead reportedly fled the scene while friends of their rivals carried away the remains of their member.

    The body of the other victim, said to be in his late 20s, was still in the middle of the road at 9:40pm on Sunday night, while the police from Ughelli ‘A’ Division and the vigilantes popularly called Bakassi, were seen near the hotel, investigating the incident.

    A vigilante, who spoke in confidence, said the victim died on the spot, following the gunshot he got at close range on the back of his head.

    He said: “This guy has been on our wanted list for a while. He is a hit man, who has been the brain behind most of the recent cult-related killings in Ughelli.”

    Also, a food vendor opposite the hotel gave the name of one of the victims simply as Ovigue.

    She said his father operates a record store on Market Road in Ughelli.

    She said: “We were standing here, attending to customers, when suddenly we heard gunshots with two persons falling to the ground.”

     

  • Ughelli power plant eyes 2,200Mw

    Ughelli power plant eyes 2,200Mw

    Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited, the core investors in Ughelli Power, says it plans to increase the generating capacity of the plant from 972 megawatts (Mw) to 2,200Mw in the next three years.

    Speaking during the visist of the post-privatisation monitoring team of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)  to the plant, its  Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, an engineer said on takeover of the plant on November 1, 2013, the core investor inherited only four operational turbines generating only 160MW of power.

    Fadeyibi, who was represented by the Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Olukunle Fagbayi, noted that by last month, the core investor had rehabilitated and made 13 out of the 18 units fully operational and generating about 635MW of available capacity.

    He said in the company’s generation forecast, by December, this year, the generation capacity would be raised to about 850Mw and in December 2017 to about 1,650Mw and 2,200Mw in 2018.

    He however lamented that due to the quality and quantity of gas available to the plant, only about 350Mw could be made available to the grid.

    He noted that another major challenge facing the company was the wheeling capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

    He urged the Federal Government on investment in the transmission segment of the value chain of the power infrastructure to strengthen the wheeling capacity of TCN.

    He said since takeover in November 2013, the company had engaged an additional 45 staff, assuring that Transcorp was going to surpass all the key performance indicators (KPIs) covenanted in its Post Acquisition Plan (PAP).

    The Chief Executive Officer also said as part of its corporate social responsibility, the company runs a model school with about 1,000 student enrolment as well as skills acquisition schemes for the host communities.

    The BPE is charged with monitoring the performances of privatised enterprises to ensure adherence to the tenets of the Share Purchase Agreements (SPAs), Performance Agreements (PAs) and full implementation of investors’ Post Acquisition Plans (PAP).

    The BPE Post-Privatisation Monitoring team to Ughelli Power Plc was led by the Director, Post Privatisation Monitoring Department, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe.

  • NBA chairman murdered in Ughelli

    NBA chairman murdered in Ughelli

    The chairman of the Ughelli branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Austin Icheghe, was Thursday night killed by an unknown gunman.

    Icheghe, it was gathered, was shot to death at about 9pm Thursday night, at his residence on 14, Ekredjebor Street, Ughelli town in Ughelli North council area of Delta state by a lone gunman.

    Meanwhile, the Warri branch of the NBA has alleged that the killing of their colleague was a pure case of assassination and charged security agencies to successfully pursue the case so as to nip the rising spate of fatal attacks on lawyers in Delta state.

    It was gathered that the killer attacked Icheghe in the presence of his immediate family, shooting him in the face.

    Narrating the incident, a niece of the Icheghe, Egunor Uviesa, said he was killed just as he was alighting from his car on his way back home from work.

    “As soon as he came down from his vehicle, they accosted him, and shot him on the head with the bullet damaging part of his face. He was immediately rushed to a private clinic here in Ughelli where he was confirmed dead,” Uviesa said.

    However, the chairman of the Warri branch of the NBA, John Aikpokpo-Martins, has condemned the brutal murder of his Ughelli counterpart, describing it as one murder too many.

    Aikpokpo-Martins also noted that the fact that he was attacked by a lone gunman further confirmed that the killing was not armed robbery, but that of assassination, charging security agencies to step up their game and arrest the rising risk to lawyers in the state.

    “We condemn it in very strong terms and call on the police and other security agencies to unravel the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to Justice. This brings to the fore what we said the other time that the killing of lawyers without proper investigation will embolden other people to attack lawyers, this is why there’s need that this particular act must be investigated and in fact the last one we complained about; the Dafiaghor case, must also be investigated so that this new attitude could be nipped in the bud.

    “One thing is evident in his death, he was killed by a lone gunman so it is an assassination, not a robbery and lawyers we don’t do any other thing except to talk and defend other people’s rights, but some people don’t like that,” he said.

    Also confirming the incident on phone, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta state police command, Celestina Kalu (DSP), told the Nation that the matter had been taken up by the police and was being investigated.

    “He was murdered by unknown gunmen last night. No clue, no details yet, it’s still under investigation, we are trying to unravel it,” Kalu said.

  • Suspected cultists kill Ughelli tycoon

    •Residents decry security agents’ ‘incompetence’  

    An Ughelli businessman, Michael Onajiyovwi (aka Onamike), has been killed by suspected cultists in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    His killing has added to several other killings in the area by suspected cultists.

    Onajiyovwi was said to have been shot dead at a popular drinking spot belonging to his wife on the Ughelli end of the East/West Road.

    Residents of the community have blamed security agents for failing to protect them from hoodlums.

    Onajiyovwi was an electrical parts dealer. He was shot in a drinking spot he opened for the wife on the Ughelli end of the East/West road.

    Although details on his death were still sketchy last night, our reporter learnt that he was shot by three gunmen at a close range.

    A member of the Ughelli vigilance team, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the incident.

    He said the incident might be connected with recent cult killings.

    Efforts to contact police spokesperson, Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), were unsuccessful.

    Calls to her mobile phone were not answered.

  • Three feared killed in clash over Ughelli market

    Three persons were feared killed yesterday and at least 12 others severely injured when youths from Ekuigbo and Otor-Iwhereko communities in the Ughelli Local Government Area of Delta State clashed over control of Ughelli Main Market.

    The fatal clash, which was later curtailed following the intervention of the officers and men of the 222 Battalion and the Ughelli Area Command of the Delta State Police Command, grounded activities in the market.

    Although details of how the clash started and who fired the first shot were still sketchy, our reporter gathered that the two groups freely used dangerous weapons.

    Eyewitnesses told our reporter that three bodies were carried away from the scene of the violence, heightening fears that some youths might have died during the clash.

    The Chairman of Otor-Iwhereko community, Mr. Felix Okoro, confirmed the incident.

    He said 12 youths from his community sustained gunshot wounds but were in stable condition.

    On the number of casualties, Okoro said nobody died.

    According to him, although some youths from his community collapsed while the gun fight was going on, those affected were evacuated from the scene of the fight and later revived.

    Ekuigbo community’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Clever Stanley said he had not been fully briefed on the matter.

    Confirming the incident to our reporter on the phone in Port Harcourt, the River State capital, police spokesman, Celestina Kalu, a deputy superintendent of Police (DSP), said no death was recorded in the clash.

    But he said 12 persons sustained injuries in the clash.