By Moses Omovevah
The leadership of the Ozoro Progress Union (OPU), led by its President General, Odio (Chief) Berkley Eloviano Asiafa, has rejected reports of his purported removal alongside members of the Central Executive Council, describing the development as unconstitutional and the resolutions of the meeting where the decision was allegedly taken as null and void.
The position of the Union followed a publication by Isoko Nation Newspaper titled, “OPU Delegates Sack Ozoro President General and His Central Executive,” concerning a disputed meeting reportedly held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Treasure Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Hall, DSC, Warri, Delta State.
In a statement dated November 10 and signed by the OPU Public Relations Officer, Oletu Othuke Umukoro, the leadership maintained that the gathering lacked the constitutional authority to function as a duly constituted OPU Delegates’ Conference or exercise powers capable of altering the Union’s leadership.
Explaining its position, the OPU leadership emphasised that the Union’s constitution remains the supreme governing instrument and that its provisions must be strictly followed in all matters concerning the administration and leadership of the organisation. It cited Articles 9.1 and 9.2(i–iii), which provide for the abolition of the former Branches Central Body and the establishment of Regional Zones, including provisions on their composition, leadership and supervision. According to the statement, any attempt to exercise powers associated with the abolished administrative structure without proper constitutional authorisation is inconsistent with the Union’s established governance framework.
On the reported impeachment, the leadership cited the relevant constitutional provision, which stipulates that a motion for the removal of an officer must be supported by a majority of the total votes cast by the general house at the Annual Conference. It argued that this requirement presupposes a properly constituted conference conducted in accordance with the OPU Constitution. The statement further stressed that a majority decision reached at an unauthorised gathering cannot satisfy the constitutional requirements for impeachment, adding that the procedures governing the removal of Central Executive officers are distinct from those applicable to community and branch officers.
Consequently, the Central Executive Council disowned the resolutions reportedly reached at the Warri meeting, insisting that the gathering failed to establish its constitutional authority, the legitimacy of its purported delegates and compliance with the prescribed procedures for removing elected officers. It maintained that the reported dissolution or removal of the President General and Central Executive Council had no legal or constitutional effect on the administration of the Union. The leadership therefore reaffirmed that Chief Berkley Eloviano Asiafa remains the legitimate President General, alongside the duly constituted Central Executive Council, and urged members, regional zones, constituent communities and the general public to disregard claims of a leadership change arising from the disputed gathering.
The Union also called on Isoko Nation Newspaper to clarify the sources of its report and ensure that information concerning the organisation’s leadership and internal affairs is verified through authentic channels before publication. It cautioned that publishing unverified claims could expose the newspaper to possible legal consequences. Meanwhile, the leadership appealed to sons and daughters of Ozoro Kingdom to remain peaceful, united and committed to constitutional governance, institutional stability and the overall development of the kingdom, rather than allowing the disagreement to undermine the unity of the community.
In a further measure, the OPU leadership announced the interim suspension of all members who participated in the purported unauthorised Central Delegates’ Conference, pending further consultations with the Board of Trustees and the application of appropriate disciplinary measures in line with the Union’s established procedures. Reiterating that no individual, faction or unauthorised assembly could override the OPU Constitution or usurp the authority of its recognised institutions, the statement declared that all pronouncements arising from the disputed meeting remained null and void. It concluded with a call for the preservation of the Union’s constitutional principles and solidarity among members, reaffirming: “Long Live Ozoro Progress Union! Long Live Ozoro Kingdom!”
