Amidst protestations calling for its outright cancelation, the election into the executive of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) is set to hold on Sunday, November 12, 2023.

A statement by the Electoral Committee signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Julie Pepple, and Victor George-Pepple announced that the venue of the election is the Ibani-Se Hall, Akiama Road, Bonny.

The Committee informed that “all delegates are required to be at the venue on time with a valid identification card, e.g. Driver’s License, International Passport, Voter’s Card, etc.”.

The statement further stated that “only delegates are required to be within and around the election venue”.

Contestants in the election are Anthony Banigo for Leader; Abarasi Abbey-Hart, Deputy Leader, Omoni Sylvanus, General Secretary; Kenneth Bristol, Director of Culture; Sandra Jim-Halliday, Director of Women Affairs; Sotonye Allison, Director of Pollution; Christian Pepple, Director of Security and Public Order; Tonye Willie-Pepple, Director of Publicity; Maureen Tobin, Director of Social Welfare and Community Development; and Miyalla Wilcox, Director of Finance.

Meanwhile, concerned stakeholders have expressed doubts over the credibility of the process given the changes to earlier announced arrangements.

For instance, the venue was changed from the statutory venue, the BYF Secretariat along King Asimini Bypass, popularly known as Berger Road. They also expressed concern over the change of time from 10am to 8am when people are supposed to be in church.

A youth from Ayambo Community, who only identified herself as Ibelema, told Kristina Reports that “is this not a sign that they want to play games? Why will they change the time to 8am? Won’t be in church by that time?”    

In a chat with Kristina Reports at Ikuba Square during the reception for the late Se-Alabo Arthur Willie-Pepple, a youth leader of one of the chieftaincy houses who pleaded anonymity, asserted that the Electoral Committee has the powers to decide when, where, and how to conduct the election.

“I’m not saying this because our brother is contesting but look at it this way; is the Electoral Committee not empowered to decide when and where and how the election should go? They should allow the committee to do its job.”

At Park Community, a resident, who identified himself as Akpan, said “I did my primary school here and all my life, I have been in this Bonny. The way they do election for youths here pains me. How can they be using 2020 list for delegates? Why them no accept the list from the chief them? I just hope them no wan play wayo (sic) for this election oh.”   

Speaking on the conduct of the election, a top security official in Bonny cautioned against any act that would infuriate the youths, urging that the right things should be done, while advising the participating youths to conduct themselves well during the elections.

“It’s a good thing that the youths are coming together to do their election; they need to conduct themselves well and be law abiding. But the people conducting the election should also adhere to the law and do the right things so that there will be no problem for the security agencies to intervene.”

Earlier on Saturday, November 11, 2023, some youth leaders had called for outright cancellation of the elections, urging the State Commissioner for Youths and the Bonny LGA Chairman to intervene in the matter and ensure the right thing is done.

They alleged that 1) the Electoral Committee was not set up by the BYF Congress thus rendering it an illegal body 2) some members of the Electoral Committee were non-delegates, thus further compromising the integrity of the Committee, and 3) there was preferential consideration for some houses to change their delegates list while others were denied such privilege.

Reacting to the allegations, Secretary of the Electoral Committee, Victor George-Pepple stated that the Committee could not have denied any chieftaincy house the right to change its delegates list as that is not part of its mandate, adding that it could not stop what was not within its purview.

“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.”