• We Don’t Have Powers to Change Delegates List – Electoral Committee
• I’m Not Involved, Have No Interest – Ex-BYF Leader

With the elections of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) just about 20 hours away, some youth leaders have called on the Rivers State Commissioner for Youths, Chisom Gbali, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox, and other stakeholders to call off the election.  

This demand was contained in a statement on Saturday, November 11, 2023 signed by the President, Nwaoju Allison Chieftaincy Major House; Karibi Dappa, Youth Leader, Longjohn Chieftaincy House; Iyeopu Longjohn, Youth Leader, Bristol Chieftaincy House; Kalada Bristol, immediate past Youth Leader, Jumbo Major House; Idanye Jumbo, and a member of BYF Congress and delegate, Jackmay House; Valentine Jackmay, and made exclusively available to Kristina Reports.

The youth leaders predicated their demand on 1) Disrespect to the respective Chiefs and Heads of their Houses 2) Illegal constitution of the Electoral Committee, and 3) Inclusion of non-delegates of BYF in the Electoral Committee.

They stated that duly nominated delegates lists sent from their respective houses as approved by their chiefs and received and acknowledged by the BYF leadership were later discarded.

They further alleged that certain individuals loyal to the immediate past Leader of the BYF, Emmanuel Finecountry were boasting that their anointed candidate would carry the day.

Furthermore, the youth leaders alleged that the Electoral Committee was set up by the outgone BYF Executive led by Emmanuel Finecountry, whereas, statutorily, it should have been the Congress of the BYF.

To them, the whole process of the election is a charade being orchestrated to impose an undemocratically elected leadership on the youths of Bonny Kingdom, stressing that should this happen it could constitute a security crisis as some youths may not accept the outcome of the process.

They, therefore, appealed to the Bonny LGA Chairman to intervene and dissolve the committee, and order a proper process to be undertaken to produce an authentic Electoral Committee.

Meanwhile, Kristina Reports sighted an Originating Summons with suit number; PHC/3153/CS/2023 at the Rivers State High Court instituted by the aggrieved youth leaders.

The claimants in the suit are Iyeopu Longjohn, Stanley Hart, Idanye Jumbo, Christian Brown, and Tamunotonye Allison (suing for themselves and as representatives of; Longjohn Major Chieftaincy House, Captain Hart Major Chieftaincy House, Jumbo Major Chieftaincy House, Buoye Omuso Brown Major Chieftaincy House and Bristol Chieftaincy Houses of Bonny Kingdom).

Respondents in the suit are Julie Pepple and Victor George-Pepple, Chairman and Secretary of BYF Electoral Committee, respectively; Chairman, Bonny Local Government Council; and the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs.

Youth Leader of Longjohn House, Iyeopu Longjohn told Kristina Reports that preferential treatment was given to some Houses to change their delegates list while others were not, questioning where the BYF derived its powers to do so.  

“Houses like Tolofari, Benstowe, Jumbo, etc. had their delegates changed but Longjohn, Benstowe, Captain Hart, and John-Jumbo were not given access for delegates’ change. The question we are asking is, how did some houses change their delegates and some did not?”

When contacted, the immediate past Leader of the BYF, Emmanuel Finecountry denied any involvement in the electoral process, saying the Congress set up the Electoral Committee after dissolving his executive.

He further explained that he does not have an anointed candidate or interest in the forthcoming election, stressing that “it would make me happy to see a free, fair and transparent process play out. For me, all Bonny youths should focus on electing a capable youth leader to succeed me”.

“They said me and my exco were the problem; now, we’re out and they are still calling my name. What did I do to them? They should face their election and leave alone. I’m not contesting neither do I have a candidate or interest.”  

On his part, the Secretary of the Electoral Committee, Victor George-Pepple dismissed the allegations, stating that “we don’t have any candidate given to us to deliver; neither do we have any interest. We just want to conduct the elections and leave”.

On the issue of delegates list, he asserted that the Electoral Committee does not have the powers to change or accept change of delegates list, stressing that it is the delegates list given to the committee upon inauguration that would be used to conduct the election.

“We don’t have the power to change delegates list; and we can’t accept new delegates list as that is not part of our mandate. We do not have such powers. They should have sorted that out before the committee was set up.”

With the elections less than 20 hours away, it remains to be seen what actions would be taken by the State commissioner for Youths, Chisom Gbali, Chairman of Bonny LGA, Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox, amongst others to rein in this impending crisis.