The Oteri-Ughelli community in Delta State finds itself plunged into chaos and turmoil as tensions surrounding the impending youth election escalate. The situation took a dangerous twist, resulting in the closure of schools and the destruction of property, including a house belonging to an electoral committee member.
The youth executive’s term in the community had reached its end, prompting the establishment of an electoral committee tasked with conducting elections to select new members. However, it appears that the electoral process has hit a rocky road.
Late at night, unidentified individuals, described as “hoodlums,” targeted a two-bedroom apartment owned by Mr. Agani, a member of the electoral committee. This brazen act of arson was carried out with Agani’s eight daughters asleep inside the house. Fortunately, the quick response of their mother and first responders prevented a tragedy, but the house was reduced to ashes.
Sources within the community shed light on the underlying tensions. It seems that the electoral committee members could not reach a consensus regarding the preferred candidate, despite successfully screening all contenders. This deadlock triggered mounting frustration, leading to the burning of Mr. Agani’s residence and the destruction of his property.
One community source revealed, “They keep postponing the elections to the dismay of all parties involved.” This ongoing delay has only added fuel to the fire, exacerbating the situation.
Moreover, the rift within the community appears to be rooted in a conflict between two prominent factions, both vying for control of the youth executive. “What is playing out now is between the cabals that are involved; they have different opinions on who should become the next youth chairman in the community,” stated a member of the Oteri community executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
As the community grapples with the fallout from this violence and uncertainty surrounding the youth election, schools remain closed, leaving students and pupils without access to their classrooms. The situation calls for urgent intervention and a resolution to prevent further unrest in the Delta State community.
