By Michael Ekokoruwe
The Isoko Development Union (I.D.U) Youth Wing has Thursday, elected comrade Joel Emeni as the President of the Union’s youth body at the National Secretariat of Isoko Development Union Oleh, Isoko South local government area of Delta State.
The election organized and conducted with the accredited 5 delegates from each of the 24 Clans of Isoko Nation under the supervision of a 7 man electoral committee headed by Hon. Osuofa Zino, the Secretary to Isoko South Local Government Area under tight security was peaceful and orderly.
While conducting the election, the Chairman of the electoral committee and President General of Okpolo Enwhe community, Chief Idolor Kennedy said, 109 delegates were accredited for the election, adding that screening of the aspirants was done earlier, to ascertain educational qualifications, community origin and to clear doubts of migration from other Isoko youth organizations.
Announcing the election results, conducted with option A4, the Secretary of the electoral committee, Engr. Thomas Akpoedafe declared Comrade Joel Emeni as the President of I.D.U Youth Wing with 76 votes, the 1st Vice president, Iduh Othuke with 74 votes, just as the chairman of the electoral committee, Chief Idolor Kennedy, declared other successful contestants elected.
Other members of the I.D.U Youth Wing executive include, the 2nd Vice President, Unuafe Sunday, Warri Erigues as the Secretary, Kennedy Umukoro Treasurer, John Odhe, Public Relations Officer, Efeakpor Israel, Financial Secretary, Agelibe Blessing, Organizing Secretary, Igbine Ofejiro, Women Leader and Akpobome Precious, Speaker.
Also included in the executive are Usher Orevaghene, Auditor General 1, Omoyibo Isaiah, Legal Adviser, Victory Chinedu, Assistant Secretary and Ikoroje Ajiri as Assistant Financial Secretary.
Ekemejighe Marilyn assistant organizing secretary, Aforke Oghenekome assistant women leader, Imina Eric assistant public relations officer, Maro Samson deputy speaker, Benedict Emmanuel auditor, Mathew Ifekor auditor 2, Mark Onoriode provost 1, Ossoh Uzezi provost 2 and Agari Igho as provost 3.
The president of Isoko Development Union, professor Chris Akpotu, represented by the 1st vice president, Prince Desmond Ogbaudu, performed the swearing in ceremony and urged the elected youth executive to be loyal and show respect to the parent body of the union, just as he urged the people to remain peaceful.
Speaking after the election, the elected president of I.D.U Youth Wing, Comr. Joel Emeni, urged the youth to be steadfast in what is good, even as he promised to engage the youths in agricultural enterprises, adding that eradication of poverty will be one of his cardinal objectives to curb youth restiveness.
Reacting to the election results and eventual swearing in of the elected executives of the I.D.U Youth Wing, the secretary to Isoko South local government area and member of the electoral committee, Hon. Osuofa Zino, commended the youth for their peaceful conduct and good ideas of moving Isoko Nation forward.
Also speaking was the vice chairman of the electoral committee, Chief Cleaver Daniel. He noted that the election was peaceful as the committee went round the 24 clans of Isoko Nation to select the delegates with photographs documentation.
Cleaver maintained that the election was free and fair, just as he urged the youth to prioritize education, adding that educated youth will not engage in restiveness but dialogue.
The Chairman of the electoral committee, Chief Idolor Kennedy, urged Isoko youth to unite and work with the leaders of Isoko Development Union with a common purpose, emphasizing that the development of Isoko Nation must be their priority.
Earlier, a section of the youth and their aspirants staged a workout, displaying various placards with the inscription, “No Olokor No Election” and others, as it was obvious of losing the election. However, the election was conducted peacefully under the close monitoring of securitymen.
