The Otuaba Community of Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State has inaugurated an electoral committee for its youth executive elections.
Speaking with newsmen last Saturday, at the community town hall shortly after a general meeting of youths of the community, incumbent Youth President, Otuaba Youth Movement (OYM), Comrade Precious Robert Oki said the primary reason for convening youths of the community was to put modalities in place to ensure a smooth, free and fair transition programme for the forthcoming youths election.
He hinted that as a result, a six-man electoral committee was inaugurated at the general meeting, noting that the outgoing executive under his stewardship was determined to ensuring that credible polls to enthrone the incoming executive was held.
The Tide learnt that the Otuaba community has lately been enmeshed in leadership tussles which had hitherto made it impossible for the conduct of youths election to transit power from outgoing youth executive council members to new ones in the community.
“We thank God that we’ve been able to inaugurate an electoral committee for the Otuaba community youth executive election.
“Now that the committee has been inaugurated, the onus is now on their side to work out modalities for the conduct of free, fair and credible election to bring on board a new youth exco for the community”, he said.
Those inaugurated as electoral committee members were Mr Daniel Otazi, Chairman; Miss Grace Diamabo, Secretary; and Apostle Opulu Idigiseimokumo as Coordinator.
Others are, Comrade Onokuma Clement, Public Relations Officer, while Mr Fidelis Ibhe and Mr Williams Oru are to serve as members respectively.
Also speaking, a former youth President of the community, Comrade Minalabh Abhunu described the inauguration of the electoral body as apt.
In his acceptance speech, the electoral committee chairman, Comrade Daniel Otazi commended the youth body for finding him and other members of the electoral umpire worthy to serve in their various capacities, pledging to deliver on the mandate reposed on them.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Otuaba council of Chiefs and acting paramount ruler of the community, Chief Apollos Otuma has lauded youths of the community for the peaceful inauguration of the electoral committee for the forthcoming youth executive election.
“We’ve given the community youth executive about two weeks to conduct elections to usher in the new youth Exco for the community.
“ Since comrade Precious Robert Oki came onboard as youth President of this community, he has been working collaboratively with the Otuaba council of Chiefs and all other arms of the community’s leadership, so I want to charge the incoming youth executives to tow the same path like the outgoing youth Exco”, he said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa